Positive resist compositions and patterning process

ABSTRACT

A polymer which is obtained from a combination of (meth)acrylate having a bridged ring lactone group and (meth)acrylate having an acid leaving group with a hexafluoroalcohol group is used as a base resin to formulate a positive resist composition which when exposed to high-energy radiation and developed, exhibits a high sensitivity, a high resolution, and a minimal line edge roughness due to controlled swell during development. The composition also has excellent dry etching resistance.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Patent Application No. 2004-115088 filed in Japan on Apr. 9, 2004, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

This invention relates to positive resist compositions, typically of the chemical amplification type, adapted for exposure to high-energy radiation, which have a significantly high contrast of alkali dissolution rate before and after the exposure, a high sensitivity, a high resolution, a minimal line edge roughness, and good etching resistance, and which are especially suited as micropatterning materials for the manufacture of VLSI or the formation of photomask patterns; and a patterning process using the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the drive for higher integration and operating speeds in LSI devices, the pattern rule is made drastically finer. The rapid advance toward finer pattern rules is grounded on the development of a projection lens with an increased NA, a resist material with improved performance, and exposure light of a shorter wavelength. In particular, the change-over from i-line (365 nm) to shorter wavelength KrF excimer laser (248 nm) brought about a significant innovation, enabling mass-scale production of 0.18 micron rule devices. To the demand for a resist material with a higher resolution and sensitivity, acid-catalyzed chemical amplification positive working resist materials are effective as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,491,628 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,310,619 (JP-B 2-27660 and JP-A 63-27829). They now become predominant resist materials especially adapted for deep UV lithography.

Resist materials adapted for KrF excimer lasers enjoyed early use on the 0.3 micron process, passed through the 0.25 micron rule, and currently entered the mass production phase on the 0.18 micron rule. Engineers have started investigation on the 0.15 micron rule, with the trend toward a finer pattern rule being accelerated. A wavelength change-over from KrF to shorter wavelength ArF excimer laser (193 nm) is expected to enable miniaturization of the design rule to 0.13 μm or less. Since conventionally used novolac resins and polyvinylphenol resins have very strong absorption in proximity to 193 nm, they are difficult to use as the base resin for resists. To ensure transparency and dry etching resistance, some engineers investigated acrylic and alicyclic (typically cycloolefin) resins as disclosed in JP-A 9-73173, JP-A 10-10739, JP-A 9-230595 and WO 97/33198.

Among others, a focus is drawn on (meth)acrylic resin base resists featuring a high resolution. One of the (meth)acrylic resins proposed thus far is a combination of (meth)acrylic units having methyladamantane ester as acid labile group units with (meth)acrylic units having lactone ring ester as adhesive group units as disclosed in JP-A 9-90637. Norbornyl lactone is also proposed as an adhesive group having enhanced etching resistance as disclosed in JP-A 2000-26446, JP-A 2000-159758 and JP-A 2002-371114.

Of the outstanding tasks associated with the ArF lithography, it is desired to minimize line edge roughness and to reduce residues following development. One of the factors causing line edge roughness is swelling during development. While the polyhydroxystyrene used as the resist for KrF lithography, in which the phenol moiety is a weak acidic group and has an appropriate alkali solubility, is resistant to swelling, polymers containing hydrophobic cycloaliphatic groups, which must be dissolved using carboxylic acids having a high acidity, are likely to swell during development.

The development performance of resists can be quantified by the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) technique. The quantity of swell during development is reported in Proc. SPIE Vol. 3999, p2 (2000). Although the swelling of a film being developed could not be observed by the prior art film thickness measurement relying on optical interference, the QCM technique designed to electrically measure any change of film weight enables to observe any weight increase of swollen film. The cited reference discusses the swelling of ArF resists based on cycloolefin polymers. Substantial swells are observed when carboxylic acid is used as the adhesive group.

It was also reported that hexafluorocarbinol groups are effective for reducing the swell. Norbornene having hexafluorocarbinol groups experiences minimal swell. Resists based on polynorbornene having such groups as the adhesive group are reported in Proc. SPIE Vol. 5039, p70 (2003) and Proc. SPIE Vol. 5039, p61 (2003). Acrylates having hexafluorocarbinol groups are also described in JP-A 2003-40480.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide a positive resist composition which when exposed to high-energy radiation and developed, exhibits a high sensitivity, a high resolution, and a minimal line edge roughness due to controlled swell during development, and leaves minimal residues following development. Another object of the invention is to provide a process for forming a pattern using the same.

The inventors continued research works targeting a positive resist composition which when exposed to high-energy radiation and developed, exhibits a high sensitivity, a high resolution, and a minimal line edge roughness due to controlled swell during development, and leaves minimal residues following development.

For the F₂ lithography, resists using hexafluoroalcohol have been studied. It is reported in J. Photopolym. Sci. Technol., Vol. 16, No. 4, p523 (2003) that hexafluoroalcohol has an acidity approximate to that of phenol and is least swollen in a developer liquid. Also known are polynorbornene having hexafluoroalcohol and α-trifluoromethyl acrylate having hexafluoroalcohol pendants. It has been reported how these polymers perform when exposed to ArF excimer laser light. The inventors have discovered that although a polymer having only hexafluoroalcohol as the adhesive group is not fully adhesive, a corresponding copolymer having copolymerized therein recurring units having lactone as the adhesive group is endowed with a good balance of hydrophilicity, alkaline solubility and adhesion. In particular, when a polymer which is obtained from a combination of (meth)acrylate having a bridged ring lactone group and (meth)acrylate having an acid-labile leaving group with an adhesive group having alkaline solubility as typified by hexafluoroalcohol is used as the base resin, there is provided a positive resist composition which when exposed to high-energy radiation and developed, exhibits a high sensitivity, a high resolution, and a minimal line edge roughness due to controlled swell during development, and leaves minimal residues following development. The composition also has excellent dry etching resistance.

According to the invention, there is provided a resist composition comprising a polymer comprising recurring units of the general formulae (1a), (2a), and (1b).

Herein R¹ is each independently hydrogen or methyl, R² is each independently hydrogen, an acyl group of 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or an acid labile group, R³ is hydrogen, methyl or —CO₂R⁸, R⁴ is hydrogen, methyl or —CH₂CO₂R⁸, R⁵ to R⁷ are each independently hydrogen, methyl or —CO₂R⁹, R⁸ is each independently hydrogen or a straight, branched or cyclic alkyl group of 1 to 15 carbon atoms, R⁹ is hydrogen or a straight, branched or cyclic alkyl group of 1 to 10 carbon atoms, X is —CH₂—, —O— or —S—, saving —CH₂— when all of R⁵ to R⁷ are hydrogen. The subscripts a1, a2 and b1 are numbers satisfying 0≦a1/(a1+a2+b1)≦0.9, 0≦a2/(a1+a2+b1)≦0.9, 0<(a1+a2)/(a1+a2+b1)≦0.9, and 0<b1/(a1+a2+b1)≦0.8.

When exposed to high-energy radiation and developed, the positive resist composition comprising the above polymer as a base resin has a significantly high contrast of alkali dissolution rate before and after the exposure, a high sensitivity, a high resolution, and a minimal line edge roughness due to controlled swell during development, leaves minimal residues following etching, and exhibits good etching resistance. Owing to these advantages, the composition is fully acceptable in industrial practice and especially suited as a micropatterning material for the manufacture of VLSI or the formation of photomask patterns.

The composition is preferably formulated as a chemically amplified positive resist composition comprising (A) the above polymer as a base resin, (B) an organic solvent, and (C) a photoacid generator. With this formulation, in the exposed area, the rate of dissolution of the polymer in a developer liquid is accelerated by acid-catalyzed reaction. Then the chemically amplified positive resist composition has so high a sensitivity that it is very suitable as the micropatterning material which is currently needed for the manufacture of VLSI. The positive resist composition may further include a dissolution inhibitor. The inclusion of a dissolution inhibitor enhances the difference in dissolution rate between the exposed and unexposed areas, leading to a further improvement in resolution. The positive resist composition may further include a basic compound and/or a surfactant. The addition of a basic compound holds down the rate of diffusion of acid within the resist film, leading to a further improvement in resolution. The addition of a surfactant improves or controls the applicability of the resist composition.

A pattern may be formed on a semiconductor substrate or mask substrate using the resist composition of the invention, typically by applying the resist composition onto a substrate to form a coating, heat treating the coating, exposing it to high-energy radiation, and developing it with a developer liquid. Heat treatment may also be carried out after the exposure and before the development. The process may, of course, be followed by various steps such as etching, resist removal and cleaning steps. The high-energy radiation typically has a wavelength in the range of 180 to 200 nm. The resist composition containing the inventive polymer as the base resin is especially effective for exposure to high-energy radiation in the wavelength range of 180 to 200 nm because its sensitivity to the exposure wavelength in the range is very high.

According to the invention, the polymer having copolymerized specific recurring units having a hexafluorocarbinol group, (meth)acrylate units having a bridged ring lactone group, and (meth)acrylate units having an acid labile group is compounded as a base resin into a resist composition, which has a high sensitivity and a high resolution. The composition is minimized in line edge roughness and leaves minimal residues following development due to controlled swell during development, as demonstrated through measurement by the QCM technique. There are thus provided positive resist compositions, especially a chemically amplified positive resist compositions, which are suited as micropatterning materials for the manufacture of VLSI or the formation of photomask patterns.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a graph showing the thickness versus developing time of a resist film formed from the resist composition of Example 1, as analyzed by the QCM technique.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing the thickness versus developing time of a resist film formed from the resist composition of Comparative Example 1, as analyzed by the QCM technique.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Polymer

The resist composition of the invention comprises a polymer or high molecular weight compound comprising recurring units of the general formulae (1a), (2a), and (1b).

In the formulae, R¹ is each independently hydrogen or methyl, R² is each independently hydrogen, an acyl group of 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or an acid labile group, R³ is hydrogen, methyl or —CO₂R⁸, R⁴ is hydrogen, methyl or —CH₂CO₂R⁸, and R⁵ to R⁷ are each independently hydrogen, methyl or —CO₂R⁹. R⁸ is each independently hydrogen or a straight, branched or cyclic alkyl group of 1 to 15 carbon atoms, R⁹ is hydrogen or a straight, branched or cyclic alkyl group of 1 to 10 carbon atoms. X is —CH₂—, —O— or —S—, saving —CH₂— when all of R⁵ to R⁷ are hydrogen. The subscripts a1, a2 and b1, representative of the molar proportions of the respective units in the polymer, are numbers satisfying 0≦a1/(a1+a2+b1)≦0.9, 0≦a2/(a1+a2+b1)≦0.9, 0<(a1+a2)/(a1+a2+b1)≦0.9, and 0<b1/(a1+a2+b1): 0.8.

Suitable acyl groups represented by R² include acetyl and pivaloyl groups, with those groups having 1 to 6 carbon atoms being preferred. The acid labile group is described later. Suitable alkyl groups represented by R⁸ include methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, cyclopentyl, hexyl, cyclohexyl, octyl and decyl, with those groups having 1 to 12 carbon atoms being preferred. Suitable alkyl groups represented by R⁹ are the same as exemplified for R⁸, with those groups having 1 to 12 carbon atoms being preferred.

Examples of the monomers from which the recurring units of formulae (1a) and (2a) are derived are given below.

In the monomer prior to polymerization, the group attached to the carbon atom of —C(CF₃)₂— is an acetyl group, which is converted to a hydroxyl group through alkaline hydrolysis after polymerization. In some cases, the hydrogen atom of the hydroxyl group may be replaced by an acid labile group.

The polymer of the invention should have copolymerized therein recurring units having hexafluorocarbinol as represented by formulae (1a) and (2a) and recurring units of an ester monomer having a specific lactone ring as represented by formula (1b).

Examples of the monomers from which the recurring units of formula (1b) are derived are given below.

In order that the resist composition be positive working, the preferred polymer in the resist composition has further copolymerized therein a monomer having an acid labile group represented by the general formula (1c).

Herein, R¹ and R² are as defined above, and R⁷ is an acid labile group.

The acid labile groups represented by R³ and R⁷ in formulae (1a) and (1c) may be identical or different and selected from a variety of such groups, preferably from groups of formulae (AL10) and (AL11), a tertiary alkyl group of 4 to 40 carbon atoms represented by formula (AL12), and an oxoalkyl group of 4 to 20 carbon atoms.

In formulae (AL10) and (AL11), R⁰⁰¹ and R⁰⁰⁴ each are a straight, branched or cyclic alkyl group of 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom such as oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen or fluorine. The subscript “a” is an integer of 0 to 10. R⁰⁰² and R⁰⁰³ each are hydrogen or a straight, branched or cyclic alkyl group of 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom such as oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen or fluorine. Alternatively, a pair of R⁰⁰² and R⁰⁰³, R⁰⁰² and R⁰⁰⁴, or R⁰⁰³ and R⁰⁰⁴, taken together, may form a ring with the carbon atom to which they are attached, the ring having 3 to 10 carbon atoms, especially 3 to 8 carbon atoms. In formula (AL12), R⁰⁰⁵, R⁰⁰⁶ and R⁰⁰⁷ each are a straight, branched or cyclic alkyl group of 1 to 20 carbon atoms. Alternatively, a pair of R⁰⁰⁵ and R⁰⁰⁶, R⁰⁰⁵ and R⁰⁰⁷, or R⁰⁰⁶ and R⁰⁰⁷, taken together, may form a ring with the carbon atom to which they are attached, the ring having 3 to 16 carbon atoms, especially 3 to 12 carbon atoms.

Illustrative examples of the groups of formula (AL10) include tert-butoxycarbonyl, tert-butoxycarbonylmethyl, tert-amyloxycarbonyl, tert-amyloxycarbonylmethyl, 1-ethoxyethoxycarbonylmethyl, 2-tetrahydropyranyloxycarbonylmethyl and 2-tetrahydrofuranyloxycarbonylmethyl as well as substituent groups of the following formulae (AL10)-1 to (AL10)-9.

In formulae (AL10)-1 to (AL10)-9, R⁰⁰⁸ is independently a straight, branched or cyclic alkyl group of 1 to 8 carbon atoms or an aryl or aralkyl group of 6 to 20 carbon atoms; R⁰⁰⁹ is hydrogen or a straight, branched or cyclic alkyl group of 1 to 20 carbon atoms; R⁰¹⁰ is an aryl or aralkyl group of 6 to 20 carbon atoms; and “a” is an integer of 0 to 10.

Illustrative examples of the acetal group of formula (AL11) include those of the following formulae (AL11)-1 to (AL11)-35.

The polymer may be crosslinked within the molecule or between molecules with acid labile groups of formula (AL11a) or (AL11b).

Herein R⁰¹¹ and R⁰¹² each are hydrogen or a straight, branched or cyclic alkyl group of 1 to 8 carbon atoms, or R⁰¹¹ and R⁰¹², taken together, may form a ring, and R⁰¹¹ and R⁰¹² are straight or branched alkylene groups of 1 to 8 carbon atoms when they form a ring. R⁰¹³ is a straight, branched or cyclic alkylene group of 1 to 10 carbon atoms. Each of b and d is 0 or an integer of 1 to 10, preferably 0 or an integer of 1 to 5, and c is an integer of 1 to 7. “A” is a (c+1)-valent aliphatic or alicyclic saturated hydrocarbon group, aromatic hydrocarbon group or heterocyclic group having 1 to 50 carbon atoms, which may be separated by a heteroatom such as oxygen, sulfur or nitrogen or in which some of the hydrogen atoms attached to carbon atoms may be substituted with hydroxyl, carboxyl, carbonyl groups or fluorine atoms. “B” is —CO—O—, —NHCO—O— or —NHCONH—.

Preferably, “A” is selected from divalent to tetravalent, straight, branched or cyclic alkylene, alkyltriyl and alkyltetrayl groups of 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and arylene groups of 6 to 30 carbon atoms, which may be separated by a heteroatom such as oxygen, sulfur or nitrogen or in which some of the hydrogen atoms attached to carbon atoms may be substituted with hydroxyl, carboxyl, acyl groups or halogen atoms. The subscript c is preferably an integer of 1 to 3.

The crosslinking acetal groups of formulae (AL11a) and (AL11b) are exemplified by the following formulae (AL11)-36 through (AL11)-43.

Illustrative examples of the tertiary alkyl of formula (AL12) include tert-butyl, triethylcarbyl, 1-ethylnorbornyl, 1-methylcyclohexyl, 1-ethylcyclopentyl, 2-(2-methyl)adamantyl, 2-(2-ethyl)adamantyl, and tert-amyl groups as well as those of (AL12)-1 to (AL12)-18.

Herein R⁰¹⁴ is independently a straight, branched or cyclic alkyl group of 1 to 8 carbon atoms, or an aryl or aralkyl group of 6 to 20 carbon atoms; R⁰¹⁵ and R⁰¹⁷ each are hydrogen or a straight, branched or cyclic alkyl group of 1 to 20 carbon atoms; and R⁰¹⁶ is an aryl or aralkyl group of 6 to 20 carbon atoms.

With R⁰¹⁸ representative of a di- or more valent alkylene or arylene group included as shown in formulae (AL12)-19 and (AL12)-20, the polymer may be crosslinked within the molecule or between molecules. In formulae (AL12)-19 and (AL12)-20, R⁰¹⁴ is as defined above; R⁰¹⁸ is a straight, branched or cyclic alkylene group of 1 to 20 carbon atoms or arylene group which may contain a heteroatom such as oxygen, sulfur or nitrogen; and c is an integer of 1 to 3.

The groups represented by R⁰¹⁴, R⁰¹⁵, R⁰¹⁶ and R⁰¹⁷ may contain a heteroatom such as oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur, examples of which are illustrated by those of the following formulae (13)-1 to (13)-7.

Of the acid labile groups of formula (AL12), recurring units having an exo-form structure represented by the formula (AL12)-21 are preferred.

Herein, R⁰¹⁹ is a straight, branched or cyclic alkyl group of 1 to 8 carbon atoms or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group of 6 to 20 carbon atom; R⁰²⁰ to R⁰²⁵, R⁰²⁸ and R⁰²⁹ are each independently hydrogen or a monovalent hydrocarbon group of 1 to 15 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom; and R⁰²⁶ and R⁰²⁷ are hydrogen. Alternatively, a pair of R⁰²⁰ and R⁰²¹, R⁰²² and R⁰²⁴, R⁰²² and R⁰²⁵, R⁰²³ and R⁰²⁵, R⁰²³ and R⁰²⁹, R⁰²⁴ and R⁰²⁸, R⁰²⁶ and R⁰²⁷, or R⁰²⁷ and R⁰²⁸, taken together, may form a ring, and in this case, each R is a divalent hydrocarbon group of 1 to 15 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom. Also, a pair of R⁰²⁰ and R⁰²⁹, R⁰²⁶ and R⁰²⁹, or R⁰²² and R⁰²⁴ which are attached to adjoining carbon atoms may bond together directly to form a double bond. The formula also represents an enantiomer

Suitable alkyl groups include methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, cyclopentyl, hexyl, cyclohexyl and octyl, with those groups having 1 to 12 carbon atoms being preferred. The preferred aryl group is phenyl. Suitable monovalent hydrocarbon groups which may contain a heteroatom include alkyl groups as exemplified above, methoxymethyl, methoxyethyl and methoxypropyl groups, with those having 1 to 6 carbon atoms being preferred. Suitable divalent hydrocarbon groups which may contain a heteroatom include the foregoing monovalent hydrocarbon groups with one of the hydrogen atoms attached to carbon atoms being eliminated. When a pair of R⁰²⁰ and R⁰²¹ form a ring, for example, the ring preferably has 3 to 10 carbon atoms, more preferably 3 to 8 carbon atoms.

The monomers of formula (1c) are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,448,420 (JP-A 2000-327633), and illustrative, non-limiting examples thereof are given below.

The acid labile groups of formula (AL12) also include acid labile groups having furandiyl, tetrahydrofurandiyl or oxanorbornanediyl as represented by formula (AL12)-22. It is preferred that these acid labile groups be included in the recurring units derived from the monomers of formula (1c).

Herein, R⁰³⁰ and R⁰³¹ are each independently a straight, branched or cyclic monovalent hydrocarbon group of 1 to 10 carbon atoms. R⁰³⁰ and R⁰³¹, taken together, may form an aliphatic hydrocarbon ring with the carbon atom to which they are attached. R⁰³² is a divalent group selected from furandiyl, tetrahydrofurandiyl and oxanorbornanediyl. R⁰³³ is hydrogen or a straight, branched or cyclic monovalent hydrocarbon group of 1 to 10 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom.

Suitable monovalent hydrocarbon groups include alkyl groups. Suitable aliphatic hydrocarbon rings include those of 3 to 12 carbon atoms, for example, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, norbornyl and adamantyl groups.

Examples of the monomers from which recurring units substituted with acid labile groups having furandiyl, tetrahydrofurandiyl and oxanorbornanediyl are derived are given below. Note that Me is methyl and Ac is acetyl.

While the polymer to be compounded in the resist composition of the invention includes essentially recurring units of formulae (1a), (2a) and (1b), it may have copolymerized therein recurring units having adhesive groups other than formulae (1a), (2a) and (1b). Specifically, recurring units derived from monomers (1d), listed below, may be incorporated. Monomers (1d)

In the polymer of the invention, the units of formulae (1a), (2a) and (1b) are present in molar proportions a1, a2 and b1, respectively, which satisfy the following range: 0≦a1/(a1+a2+b1)≦0.9, preferably 0≦a1/(a1+a2+b1)≦0.8, 0≦a2/(a1+a2+b1)≦0.9, preferably 0≦a2/(a1+a2+b1)≦0.8, 0<(a1+a2)/(a1+a2+b1)<0.9, preferably 0.03≦(a1+a2)/(a1+a2+b1) δ 0.8, and 0<b1/(a1+a2+b1) δ 0.8, preferably 0.1≦b1/(a1+a2+b1)≦0.7. Where units derived from the monomer of formula (1c) and units derived from the monomer (1d) are incorporated in molar proportions 1c and 1d, respectively, these proportions are preferably in the following range: 0≦1c/(a1+a2+b1+1c+1d)≦0.8, especially 0.1≦1c/(a1+a2+b1+1c+1d)≦0.7, and 0≦1d/(a1+a2+b1+1c+1d)≦0.7, especially 0.1≦1d/(a1+a2+b1+1c+1d)≦0.6. It is understood that the relative proportions of recurring units of formulae (1a), (2a) and (1b) are the same whether the denominator is (a1+a2+b1) or (a1+a2+b1+1c+1d).

The polymer of the invention should preferably have a weight average molecular weight (Mw) in the range of 1,000 to 500,000, more preferably 2,000 to 30,000 as measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) using polystyrene standards. With too low a Mw, the resist composition may be less heat resistant. With too high a Mw, the resist composition may lose alkali solubility and give rise to a footing phenomenon after pattern formation.

If a polymer has a wide molecular weight distribution or dispersity (Mw/Mn), which indicates the presence of lower and higher molecular weight polymer components, there is a possibility that foreign matter is left on the pattern or the pattern profile is degraded. The influences of molecular weight and dispersity become stronger as the pattern rule becomes finer. Therefore, the multi-component copolymer should preferably have a narrow dispersity (Mw/Mn) of 1.0 to 2.0, especially 1.0 to 1.5, in order to provide a resist composition suitable for micropatterning to a small feature size.

The polymer of the invention may be synthesized by any desired method, for example, by dissolving unsaturated bond-containing monomers corresponding to the respective units of formulae (1a), (2a) and (1b) and optional monomers of formula (1c) or the like in an organic solvent, adding a radical initiator thereto, and effecting heat polymerization. Examples of the organic solvent which can be used for polymerization include toluene, benzene, tetrahydrofuran, diethyl ether and dioxane. Examples of the polymerization initiator used herein include 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN), 2,2′-azobis(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile), dimethyl 2,2-azobis(2-methylpropionate), benzoyl peroxide, and lauroyl peroxide. Preferably the system is heated at 50 to 80° C. for polymerization to take place. The reaction time is about 2 to 100 hours, preferably about 5 to 20 hours. The acid labile group that has been incorporated in the monomers may be kept as such, or the acid labile group may be once removed with an acid catalyst and thereafter blocked or partially blocked.

The polymer of the invention can be formulated as the base resin into a resist composition, and especially chemical amplified positive working resist composition. It is understood that on use of the polymer as the base resin, a blend of two or more polymers which differ in compositional ratio, molecular weight distribution or molecular weight is acceptable.

In addition to the polymer, the positive resist composition of the invention may comprise an organic solvent, a compound capable of generating an acid in response to high-energy radiation (photoacid generator), and optionally, a dissolution inhibitor, a basic compound, a surfactant and other additives.

Solvent

The organic solvent used herein may be any organic solvent in which the base resin, photoacid generator, and other components are soluble. Illustrative, non-limiting, examples of the organic solvent include ketones such as cyclohexanone and methyl-2-n-amylketone; alcohols such as 3-methoxybutanol, 3-methyl-3-methoxybutanol, 1-methoxy-2-propanol, and 1-ethoxy-2-propanol; ethers such as propylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, propylene glycol dimethyl ether, and diethylene glycol dimethyl ether; esters such as propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate, propylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate, ethyl lactate, ethyl pyruvate, butyl acetate, methyl 3-methoxypropionate, ethyl 3-ethoxypropionate, tert-butyl acetate, tert-butyl propionate, and propylene glycol mono-tert-butyl ether acetate; and lactones such as γ-butyrolactone.

These solvents may be used alone or in combinations of two or more thereof. Of the above organic solvents, diethylene glycol dimethyl ether, 1-ethoxy-2-propanol and propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate, and mixtures thereof are preferred because the photoacid generator is most soluble therein.

The organic solvent is preferably used in an amount of about 200 to 1,000 parts by weight, more preferably about 400 to 800 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the base resin.

Photoacid Generator

The photoacid generator is a compound capable of generating an acid upon exposure to high-energy radiation and includes the following:

-   (i) onium salts of the formula (Pla-1), (Pla-2) or (Plb), -   (ii) diazomethane derivatives of the formula (P2), -   (iii) glyoxime derivatives of the formula (P3), -   (iv) bissulfone derivatives of the formula (P4), -   (v) sulfonic acid esters of N-hydroxyimide compounds of the formula     (P5), -   (vi) β-ketosulfonic acid derivatives, -   (vii) disulfone derivatives, -   (viii) nitrobenzylsulfonate derivatives, and -   (ix) sulfonate derivatives.

These photoacid generators are described in detail. (i) Onium Salts of Formula (Pla-1), (Pla-2) or (Plb):

Herein, R^(101a), R^(101b), and R^(101c) independently represent straight, branched or cyclic alkyl, alkenyl, oxoalkyl or oxoalkenyl groups of 1 to 12 carbon atoms, aryl groups of 6 to 20 carbon atoms, or aralkyl or aryloxoalkyl groups of 7 to 12 carbon atoms, wherein some or all of the hydrogen atoms may be replaced by alkoxy or other groups. Also, R^(101b) and R^(101c), taken together, may form a ring. R^(101b) and R^(101c) each are an alkylene group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms when they form a ring. K⁻ is a non-nucleophilic counter ion.

R^(101a), R^(101b), and R^(101c) may be the same or different and are illustrated below. Exemplary alkyl groups include methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, cyclopropylmethyl, 4-methylcyclohexyl, cyclohexylmethyl, norbornyl, and adamantyl. Exemplary alkenyl groups include vinyl, allyl, propenyl, butenyl, hexenyl, and cyclohexenyl. Exemplary oxoalkyl groups include 2-oxocyclopentyl and 2-oxocyclohexyl as well as 2-oxopropyl, 2-cyclopentyl-2-oxoethyl, 2-cyclohexyl-2-oxoethyl, and 2-(4-methylcyclohexyl)-2-oxoethyl. Exemplary oxoalkenyl groups include 2-oxo-4-cyclohexenyl and 2-oxo-4-propenyl. Exemplary aryl groups include phenyl and naphthyl; alkoxyphenyl groups such as p-methoxyphenyl, m-methoxyphenyl, o-methoxyphenyl, ethoxyphenyl, p-tert-butoxyphenyl, and m-tert-butoxyphenyl; alkylphenyl groups such as 2-methylphenyl, 3-methylphenyl, 4-methylphenyl, ethylphenyl, 4-tert-butylphenyl, 4-butylphenyl, and dimethylphenyl; alkylnaphthyl groups such as methylnaphthyl and ethylnaphthyl; alkoxynaphthyl groups such as methoxynaphthyl and ethoxynaphthyl; dialkylnaphthyl groups such as dimethylnaphthyl and diethylnaphthyl; and dialkoxynaphthyl groups such as dimethoxynaphthyl and diethoxynaphthyl. Exemplary aralkyl groups include benzyl, phenylethyl, and phenethyl. Exemplary aryloxoalkyl groups are 2-aryl-2-oxoethyl groups such as 2-phenyl-2-oxoethyl, 2-(1-naphthyl)-2-oxoethyl, and 2-(2-naphthyl)-2-oxoethyl. Examples of the non-nucleophilic counter ion represented by K⁻ include halide ions such as chloride and bromide ions, fluoroalkylsulfonate ions such as triflate, 1,1,1-trifluoroethanesulfonate, and nonafluorobutanesulfonate, arylsulfonate ions such as tosylate, benzenesulfonate, 4-fluorobenzenesulfonate, and 1,2,3,4,5-pentafluorobenzenesulfonate, and alkylsulfonate ions such as mesylate and butanesulfonate.

Herein, R^(102a) and R^(102b) independently represent straight, branched or cyclic alkyl groups of 1 to 8 carbon atoms. R¹⁰³ represents a straight, branched or cyclic alkylene group of 1 to 10 carbon atoms. R^(104a) and R^(104b) independently represent 2-oxoalkyl groups of 3 to 7 carbon atoms. K⁻ is a non-nucleophilic counter ion.

Illustrative of the groups represented by R^(102a) and R^(102b) are methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cyclopropylmethyl, 4-methylcyclohexyl, and cyclohexylmethyl. Illustrative of the groups represented by R¹⁰³ are methylene, ethylene, propylene, butylene, pentylene, hexylene, heptylene, octylene, nonylene, 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,2-cyclohexylene, 1,3-cyclopentylene, 1,4-cyclooctylene, and 1,4-cyclohexanedimethylene. Illustrative of the groups represented by R^(104a) and R^(104b) are 2-oxopropyl, 2-oxocyclopentyl, 2-oxocyclohexyl, and 2-oxocycloheptyl. Illustrative examples of the counter ion represented by K⁻ are the same as exemplified for formulae (Pla-1) and (Pla-2). (ii) Diazomethane Derivatives of Formula (P2)

Herein, R¹⁰⁵ and R¹⁰⁶ independently represent straight, branched or cyclic alkyl or halogenated alkyl groups of 1 to 12 carbon atoms, aryl or halogenated aryl groups of 6 to 20 carbon atoms, or aralkyl groups of 7 to 12 carbon atoms.

Of the groups represented by R¹⁰⁵ and R¹⁰⁶, exemplary alkyl groups include methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, amyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, norbornyl, and adamantyl. Exemplary halogenated alkyl groups include trifluoromethyl, 1,1,1-trifluoroethyl, 1,1,1-trichloroethyl, and nonafluorobutyl. Exemplary aryl groups include phenyl; alkoxyphenyl groups such as p-methoxyphenyl, m-methoxyphenyl, o-methoxyphenyl, ethoxyphenyl, p-tert-butoxyphenyl, and m-tert-butoxyphenyl; and alkylphenyl groups such as 2-methylphenyl, 3-methylphenyl, 4-methylphenyl, ethylphenyl, 4-tert-butylphenyl, 4-butylphenyl, and dimethylphenyl. Exemplary halogenated aryl groups include fluorophenyl, chlorophenyl, and 1,2,3,4,5-pentafluorophenyl. Exemplary aralkyl groups include benzyl and phenethyl. (iii) Glyoxime Derivatives of Formula (P3)

Herein, R¹⁰⁷, R¹⁰⁸, and R¹⁰⁹ independently represent straight, branched or cyclic alkyl or halogenated alkyl groups of 1 to 12 carbon atoms, aryl or halogenated aryl groups of 6 to 20 carbon atoms, or aralkyl groups of 7 to 12 carbon atoms. Also, R¹⁰⁸ and R¹⁰⁹, taken together, may form a ring. R¹⁰⁸ and R¹⁰⁹ each are a straight or branched alkylene group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms when they form a ring.

Illustrative examples of the alkyl, halogenated alkyl, aryl, halogenated aryl, and aralkyl groups represented by R¹⁰⁷, R¹⁰⁸, and R¹⁰⁹ are the same as exemplified for R¹⁰⁵ and R¹⁰⁶ Examples of the alkylene groups represented by R¹⁰⁸ and R¹⁰⁹ include methylene, ethylene, propylene, butylene, and hexylene. (iv) Bissulfone Derivatives of Formula (P4)

Herein, R^(101a) and R^(101b) are as defined above. (v) Sulfonic Acid Esters of N-Hydroxyimide Compounds of Formula (P5)

Herein, R¹¹⁰ is an arylene group of 6 to 10 carbon atoms, alkylene group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or alkenylene group of 2 to 6 carbon atoms wherein some or all of the hydrogen atoms may be replaced by straight or branched alkyl or alkoxy groups of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, nitro, acetyl, or phenyl groups. R¹¹¹ is a straight, branched or cyclic alkyl group of 1 to 8 carbon atoms, alkenyl, alkoxyalkyl, phenyl or naphthyl group wherein some or all of the hydrogen atoms may be replaced by alkyl or alkoxy groups of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, phenyl groups (which may have substituted thereon an alkyl or alkoxy of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, nitro, or acetyl group), hetero-aromatic groups of 3 to 5 carbon atoms, or chlorine or fluorine atoms.

Of the groups represented by R¹¹⁰, exemplary arylene groups include 1,2-phenylene and 1,8-naphthylene; exemplary alkylene groups include methylene, ethylene, trimethylene, tetramethylene, phenylethylene, and norbornane-2,3-diyl; and exemplary alkenylene groups include 1,2-vinylene, 1-phenyl-1,2-vinylene, and 5-norbornene-2,3-diyl. Of the groups represented by R¹¹¹, exemplary alkyl groups are as exemplified for R^(101a) to R^(101c); exemplary alkenyl groups include vinyl, 1-propenyl, allyl, 1-butenyl, 3-butenyl, isoprenyl, 1-pentenyl, 3-pentenyl, 4-pentenyl, dimethylallyl, 1-hexenyl, 3-hexenyl, 5-hexenyl, 1-heptenyl, 3-heptenyl, 6-heptenyl, and 7-octenyl; and exemplary alkoxyalkyl groups include methoxymethyl, ethoxymethyl, propoxymethyl, butoxymethyl, pentyloxymethyl, hexyloxymethyl, heptyloxymethyl, methoxyethyl, ethoxyethyl, propoxyethyl, butoxyethyl, pentyloxyethyl, hexyloxyethyl, methoxypropyl, ethoxypropyl, propoxypropyl, butoxypropyl, methoxybutyl, ethoxybutyl, propoxybutyl, methoxypentyl, ethoxypentyl, methoxyhexyl, and methoxyheptyl.

Of the substituents on these groups, the alkyl groups of 1 to 4 carbon atoms include methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl and tert-butyl; and the alkoxy groups of 1 to 4 carbon atoms include methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, isopropoxy, n-butoxy, isobutoxy, and tert-butoxy. The phenyl groups which may have substituted thereon an alkyl or alkoxy of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, nitro, or acetyl group include phenyl, tolyl, p-tert-butoxyphenyl, p-acetylphenyl and p-nitrophenyl. The hetero-aromatic groups of 3 to 5 carbon atoms include pyridyl and furyl.

Illustrative examples of the photoacid generator include:

onium salts such as

-   diphenyliodonium trifluoromethanesulfonate, -   (p-tert-butoxyphenyl)phenyliodonium trifluoromethanesulfonate,     diphenyliodonium p-toluenesulfonate, -   (p-tert-butoxyphenyl)phenyliodonium p-toluenesulfonate,     triphenylsulfonium trifluoromethanesulfonate, -   (p-tert-butoxyphenyl)diphenylsulfonium trifluoromethane-sulfonate, -   bis(p-tert-butoxyphenyl)phenylsulfonium trifluoromethane-sulfonate, -   tris(p-tert-butoxyphenyl)sulfonium trifluoromethanesulfonate,     triphenylsulfonium p-toluenesulfonate, -   (p-tert-butoxyphenyl)diphenylsulfonium p-toluenesulfonate, -   bis(p-tert-butoxyphenyl)phenylsulfonium p-toluenesulfonate, -   tris(p-tert-butoxyphenyl)sulfonium p-toluenesulfonate, -   triphenylsulfonium nonafluorobutanesulfonate, -   triphenylsulfonium butanesulfonate, -   trimethylsulfonium trifluoromethanesulfonate, -   trimethylsulfonium p-toluenesulfonate, -   cyclohexylmethyl(2-oxocyclohexyl)sulfonium     trifluoromethane-sulfonate, -   cyclohexylmethyl(2-oxocyclohexyl)sulfonium p-toluenesulfonate, -   dimethylphenylsulfonium trifluoromethanesulfonate, -   dimethylphenylsulfonium p-toluenesulfonate, -   dicyclohexylphenylsulfonium trifluoromethanesulfonate, -   dicyclohexylphenylsulfonium p-toluenesulfonate, -   trinaphthylsulfonium trifluoromethanesulfonate, -   (2-norbornyl)methyl(2-oxocyclohexyl)sulfonium     trifluoro-methanesulfonate, -   ethylenebis[methyl(2-oxocyclopentyl)sulfonium     trifluoro-methanesulfonate], and -   1,2′-naphthylcarbonylmethyltetrahydrothiophenium triflate;

diazomethane derivatives such as

-   bis(benzenesulfonyl)diazomethane, -   bis(p-toluenesulfonyl)diazomethane, -   bis(xylenesulfonyl)diazomethane, -   bis(cyclohexylsulfonyl)diazomethane, -   bis(cyclopentylsulfonyl)diazomethane, -   bis(n-butylsulfonyl)diazomethane, -   bis(isobutylsulfonyl)diazomethane, -   bis(sec-butylsulfonyl)diazomethane, -   bis(n-propylsulfonyl)diazomethane, -   bis(isopropylsulfonyl)diazomethane, -   bis(tert-butylsulfonyl)diazomethane, -   bis(n-amylsulfonyl)diazomethane, -   bis(isoamylsulfonyl)diazomethane, -   bis(sec-amylsulfonyl)diazomethane, -   bis(tert-amylsulfonyl)diazomethane, -   1-cyclohexylsulfonyl-1-(tert-butylsulfonyl)diazomethane, -   1-cyclohexylsulfonyl-1-(tert-amylsulfonyl)diazomethane, and -   1-tert-amylsulfonyl-1-(tert-butylsulfonyl)diazomethane;

glyoxime derivatives such as

-   bis-O-(p-toluenesulfonyl)-α-dimethylglyoxime, -   bis-O-(p-toluenesulfonyl)-α-diphenylglyoxime, -   bis-O-(p-toluenesulfonyl)-α-dicyclohexylglyoxime, -   bis-O-(p-toluenesulfonyl)-2,3-pentanedioneglyoxime, -   bis-O-(p-toluenesulfonyl)-2-methyl-3,4-pentanedioneglyoxime, -   bis-O-(n-butanesulfonyl)-α-dimethylglyoxime, -   bis-O-(n-butanesulfonyl)-α-diphenylglyoxime, -   bis-O-(n-butanesulfonyl)-α-dicyclohexylglyoxime, -   bis-O-(n-butanesulfonyl)-2,3-pentanedioneglyoxime, -   bis-O-(n-butanesulfonyl)-2-methyl-3,4-pentanedioneglyoxime, -   bis-O-(methanesulfonyl)-α-dimethylglyoxime, -   bis-O-(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)-α-dimethylglyoxime, -   bis-O-(1,1,1-trifluoroethanesulfonyl)-α-dimethylglyoxime, -   bis-O-(tert-butanesulfonyl)-α-dimethylglyoxime, -   bis-O-(perfluorooctanesulfonyl)-α-dimethylglyoxime, -   bis-O-(cyclohexanesulfonyl)-α-dimethylglyoxime, -   bis-O-(benzenesulfonyl)-α-dimethylglyoxime, -   bis-O-(p-fluorobenzenesulfonyl)-α-dimethylglyoxime, -   bis-O-(p-tert-butylbenzenesulfonyl)-α-dimethylglyoxime, -   bis-O-(xylenesulfonyl)-α-dimethylglyoxime, and -   bis-O-(camphorsulfonyl)-α-dimethylglyoxime;

bissulfone derivatives such as

-   bisnaphthylsulfonylmethane, bistrifluoromethylsulfonylmethane,     bismethylsulfonylmethane, bisethylsulfonylmethane,     bispropylsulfonylmethane, bisisopropylsulfonylmethane,     bis-p-toluenesulfonylmethane, and bisbenzenesulfonylmethane;

β-ketosulfone derivatives such as

-   2-cyclohexylcarbonyl-2-(p-toluenesulfonyl)propane and -   2-isopropylcarbonyl-2-(p-toluenesulfonyl)propane;

disulfone derivatives such as diphenyl disulfone deratives and dicyclohexyl disulfone derivatives;

nitrobenzyl sulfonate derivatives such as

-   2,6-dinitrobenzyl p-toluenesulfonate and -   2,4-dinitrobenzyl p-toluenesulfonate;

sulfonic acid ester derivatives such as

-   1,2,3-tris(methanesulfonyloxy)benzene, -   1,2,3-tris(trifluoromethanesulfonyloxy)benzene, and -   1,2,3-tris(p-toluenesulfonyloxy)benzene; and

sulfonic acid esters of N-hydroxyimides such as

-   N-hydroxysuccinimide methanesulfonate, -   N-hydroxysuccinimide trifluoromethanesulfonate, -   N-hydroxysuccinimide ethanesulfonate, -   N-hydroxysuccinimide 1-propanesulfonate, -   N-hydroxysuccinimide 2-propanesulfonate, -   N-hydroxysuccinimide 1-pentanesulfonate, -   N-hydroxysuccinimide 1-octanesulfonate, -   N-hydroxysuccinimide p-toluenesulfonate, -   N-hydroxysuccinimide p-methoxybenzenesulfonate, -   N-hydroxysuccinimide 2-chloroethanesulfonate, -   N-hydroxysuccinimide benzenesulfonate, -   N-hydroxysuccinimide 2,4,6-trimethylbenzenesulfonate, -   N-hydroxysuccinimide 1-naphthalenesulfonate, -   N-hydroxysuccinimide 2-naphthalenesulfonate, -   N-hydroxy-2-phenylsuccinimide methanesulfonate, -   N-hydroxymaleimide methanesulfonate, -   N-hydroxymaleimide ethanesulfonate, -   N-hydroxy-2-phenylmaleimide methanesulfonate, -   N-hydroxyglutarimide methanesulfonate, -   N-hydroxyglutarimide benzenesulfonate, -   N-hydroxyphthalimide methanesulfonate, -   N-hydroxyphthalimide benzenesulfonate, -   N-hydroxyphthalimide trifluoromethanesulfonate, -   N-hydroxyphthalimide p-toluenesulfonate, -   N-hydroxynaphthalimide methanesulfonate, -   N-hydroxynaphthalimide benzenesulfonate, -   N-hydroxy-5-norbornene-2,3-dicarboxyimide methanesulfonate, -   N-hydroxy-5-norbornene-2,3-dicarboxyimide     trifluoromethane-sulfonate, and -   N-hydroxy-5-norbornene-2,3-dicarboxyimide p-toluenesulfonate.

Preferred among these photoacid generators are onium salts such as triphenylsulfonium trifluoromethanesulfonate,

-   (p-tert-butoxyphenyl)diphenylsulfonium trifluoromethane-sulfonate, -   tris(p-tert-butoxyphenyl)sulfonium trifluoromethanesulfonate,     triphenylsulfonium p-toluenesulfonate, -   (p-tert-butoxyphenyl)diphenylsulfonium p-toluenesulfonate, -   tris(p-tert-butoxyphenyl)sulfonium p-toluenesulfonate,     trinaphthylsulfonium trifluoromethanesulfonate, -   cyclohexylmethyl(2-oxocyclohexyl)sulfonium     trifluoromethane-sulfonate, -   (2-norbornyl)methyl(2-oxocylohexyl)sulfonium     trifluoro-methanesulfonate, and -   1,2′-naphthylcarbonylmethyltetrahydrothiophenium triflate; -   diazomethane derivatives such as -   bis(benzenesulfonyl)diazomethane, -   bis(p-toluenesulfonyl)diazomethane, -   bis(cyclohexylsulfonyl)diazomethane, -   bis(n-butylsulfonyl)diazomethane, -   bis(isobutylsulfonyl)diazomethane, -   bis(sec-butylsulfonyl)diazomethane, -   bis(n-propylsulfonyl)diazomethane, -   bis(isopropylsulfonyl)diazomethane, and -   bis(tert-butylsulfonyl)diazomethane; -   glyoxime derivatives such as -   bis-O-(p-toluenesulfonyl)-α-dimethylglyoxime and -   bis-O-(n-butanesulfonyl)-α-dimethylglyoxime; -   bissulfone derivatives such as bisnaphthylsulfonylmethane; -   and sulfonic acid esters of N-hydroxyimide compounds such as -   N-hydroxysuccinimide methanesulfonate, -   N-hydroxysuccinimide trifluoromethanesulfonate, -   N-hydroxysuccinimide 1-propanesulfonate, -   N-hydroxysuccinimide 2-propanesulfonate, -   N-hydroxysuccinimide 1-pentanesulfonate, -   N-hydroxysuccinimide p-toluenesulfonate, -   N-hydroxynaphthalimide methanesulfonate, and -   N-hydroxynaphthalimide benzenesulfonate.

These photoacid generators may be used singly or in combinations of two or more thereof. Onium salts are effective for improving rectangularity, while diazomethane derivatives and glyoxime derivatives are effective for reducing standing waves. The combination of an onium salt with a diazomethane or a glyoxime derivative allows for fine adjustment of the profile.

The photoacid generator is preferably added in an amount of 0.1 to 50 parts, and especially 0.5 to 40 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of the base resin. Less than 0.1 part of the photoacid generator may generate a less amount of acid upon exposure, sometimes leading to a poor sensitivity and resolution whereas more than 50 parts of the photoacid generator may adversely affect the transmittance and resolution of resist.

Dissolution Regulator

To the resist composition, a dissolution regulator or inhibitor may be added. The dissolution regulator is a compound having on the molecule at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups, in which an average of from 0 to 100 mol % of all the hydrogen atoms on the phenolic hydroxyl groups are replaced with acid labile groups or a compound having on the molecule at least one carboxyl group, in which an average of 50 to 100 mol % of all the hydrogen atoms on the carboxyl groups are replaced with acid labile groups, both the compounds having a weight average molecular weight within a range of 100 to 1,000, and preferably 150 to 800.

The degree of substitution of the hydrogen atoms on the phenolic hydroxyl groups with acid labile groups is on average at least 0 mol %, and preferably at least 30 mol %, of all the phenolic hydroxyl groups. The upper limit is 100 mol %, and preferably 80 mol %. The degree of substitution of the hydrogen atoms on the carboxyl groups with acid labile groups is on average at least 50 mol %, and preferably at least 70 mol %, of all the carboxyl groups, with the upper limit being 100 mol %.

Preferable examples of such compounds having two or more phenolic hydroxyl groups or compounds having at least one carboxyl group include those of formulas (D1) to (D14) below.

In these formulas, R²⁰¹ and R²⁰² are each hydrogen or a straight or branched C₁-C₈ alkyl or alkenyl; R²⁰³ is hydrogen, a straight or branched C₁-C₈ alkyl or alkenyl, or —(R²⁰⁷)_(h)—COOH; R²⁰⁴ is —(CH₂)_(i)— (where i=2 to 10), a C₆-C₁₁ arylene, carbonyl, sulfonyl, an oxygen atom, or a sulfur atom; R²⁰⁵ is a C₁-C₁₀ alkylene, a C₆-C₁₀ arylene, carbonyl, sulfonyl, an oxygen atom, or a sulfur atom; R²⁰⁶ is hydrogen, a straight or branched C₁-C₈ alkyl or alkenyl, or a hydroxyl-substituted phenyl or naphthyl; R²⁰⁷ is a straight or branched C₁-C₁₀ alkylene; R²⁰⁸ is hydrogen or hydroxyl; the letter j is an integer from 0 to 5; u and h are each 0 or 1; s, t, s′, t′, s″, and t″ are each numbers which satisfy s+t=8, s′+t′=5, and s″+t″=4, and are such that each phenyl structure has at least one hydroxyl group; and a is a number such that the compounds of formula (D8) or (D9) have a molecular weight of from 100 to 1,000.

The foregoing compounds should have a weight average molecular weight of from 100 to 1,000, preferably 150 to 800. The dissolution inhibitor may be formulated in an amount of 0 to 50 parts, preferably 5 to 50 parts, and more preferably 10 to 30 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of the base resin, and may be used singly or as a mixture of two or more thereof. An appropriate amount of the dissolution inhibitor is effective for improving resolution whereas more than 50 parts would lead to slimming of the patterned film, and thus a decline in resolution.

Basic Compound

The basic compound used herein is preferably a compound capable of suppressing the rate of diffusion when the acid generated by the photoacid generator diffuses within the resist film. The inclusion of this type of basic compound holds down the rate of acid diffusion within the resist film, resulting in better resolution. In addition, it suppresses changes in sensitivity following exposure, thus reducing substrate and environment dependence, as well as improving the exposure latitude and the pattern profile.

Examples of suitable basic compounds include primary, secondary, and tertiary aliphatic amines, mixed amines, aromatic amines, heterocyclic amines, nitrogen-containing compounds having carboxyl group, nitrogen-containing compounds having sulfonyl group, nitrogen-containing compounds having hydroxyl group, nitrogen-containing compounds having hydroxyphenyl group, nitrogen-containing alcoholic compounds, amide derivatives, and imide derivatives.

Examples of suitable primary aliphatic amines include ammonia, methylamine, ethylamine, n-propylamine, isopropylamine, n-butylamine, iso-butylamine, sec-butylamine, tert-butylamine, pentylamine, tert-amylamine, cyclopentylamine, hexylamine, cyclohexylamine, heptylamine, octylamine, nonylamine, decylamine, dodecylamine, cetylamine, methylenediamine, ethylenediamine, and tetraethylenepentamine. Examples of suitable secondary aliphatic amines include dimethylamine, diethylamine, di-n-propylamine, di-iso-propylamine, di-n-butylamine, di-iso-butylamine, di-sec-butylamine, dipentylamine, dicyclopentylamine, dihexylamine, dicyclohexylamine, diheptylamine, dioctylamine, dinonylamine, didecylamine, didodecylamine, dicetylamine, N,N-dimethylmethylenediamine, N,N-dimethylethylenediamine, and N,N-dimethyltetraethylenepentamine. Examples of suitable tertiary aliphatic amines include trimethylamine, triethylamine, tri-n-propylamine, tri-iso-propylamine, tri-n-butylamine, tri-iso-butylamine, tri-sec-butylamine, tripentylamine, tricyclopentylamine, trihexylamine, tricyclohexylamine, triheptylamine, trioctylamine, trinonylamine, tridecylamine, tridodecylamine, tricetylamine, N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylmethylenediamine, N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine, and N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyltetraethylenepentamine.

Examples of suitable mixed amines include dimethylethylamine, methylethylpropylamine, benzylamine, phenethylamine, and benzyldimethylamine. Examples of suitable aromatic amines include aniline derivatives (e.g., aniline, N-methylaniline, N-ethylaniline, N-propylaniline, N,N-dimethylaniline, 2-methylaniline, 3-methylaniline, 4-methylaniline, ethylaniline, propylaniline, trimethylaniline, 2-nitroaniline, 3-nitroaniline, 4-nitroaniline, 2,4-dinitroaniline, 2,6-dinitroaniline, 3,5-dinitroaniline, and N,N-dimethyltoluidine), diphenyl(p-tolyl)amine, methyldiphenylamine, triphenylamine, phenylenediamine, naphthylamine, and diaminonaphthalene. Examples of suitable heterocyclic amines include pyrrole derivatives (e.g., pyrrole, 2H-pyrrole, 1-methylpyrrole, 2,4-dimethylpyrrole, 2,5-dimethylpyrrole, and N-methylpyrrole), oxazole derivatives (e.g., oxazole and isooxazole), thiazole derivatives (e.g., thiazole and isothiazole), imidazole derivatives (e.g., imidazole, 4-methylimidazole, and 4-methyl-2-phenylimidazole), pyrazole derivatives, furazan derivatives, pyrroline derivatives (e.g., pyrroline and 2-methyl-1-pyrroline), pyrrolidine derivatives (e.g., pyrrolidine, N-methylpyrrolidine, pyrrolidinone, and N-methylpyrrolidone), imidazoline derivatives, imidazolidine derivatives, pyridine derivatives (e.g., pyridine, methylpyridine, ethylpyridine, propylpyridine, butylpyridine, 4-(1-butylpentyl)pyridine, dimethylpyridine, trimethylpyridine, triethylpyridine, phenylpyridine, 3-methyl-2-phenylpyridine, 4-tert-butylpyridine, diphenylpyridine, benzylpyridine, methoxypyridine, butoxypyridine, dimethoxypyridine, 1-methyl-2-pyridine, 4-pyrrolidinopyridine, 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridine, 2-(1-ethylpropyl)pyridine, aminopyridine, and dimethylaminopyridine), pyridazine derivatives, pyrimidine derivatives, pyrazine derivatives, pyrazoline derivatives, pyrazolidine derivatives, piperidine derivatives, piperazine derivatives, morpholine derivatives, indole derivatives, isoindole derivatives, 1H-indazole derivatives, indoline derivatives, quinoline derivatives (e.g., quinoline and 3-quinolinecarbonitrile), isoquinoline derivatives, cinnoline derivatives, quinazoline derivatives, quinoxaline derivatives, phthalazine derivatives, purine derivatives, pteridine derivatives, carbazole derivatives, phenanthridine derivatives, acridine derivatives, phenazine derivatives, 1,10-phenanthroline derivatives, adenine derivatives, adenosine derivatives, guanine derivatives, guanosine derivatives, uracil derivatives, and uridine derivatives.

Examples of suitable nitrogen-containing compounds having carboxyl group include aminobenzoic acid, indolecarboxylic acid, and amino acid derivatives (e.g., nicotinic acid, alanine, alginine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, glycylleucine, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, lysine, 3-aminopyrazine-2-carboxylic acid, and methoxyalanine). Examples of suitable nitrogen-containing compounds having sulfonyl group include 3-pyridinesulfonic acid and pyridinium p-toluenesulfonate. Examples of suitable nitrogen-containing compounds having hydroxyl group, nitrogen-containing compounds having hydroxyphenyl group, and nitrogen-containing alcoholic compounds include 2-hydroxypyridine, aminocresol, 2,4-quinolinediol, 3-indolemethanol hydrate, monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, N-ethyldiethanolamine, N,N-diethylethanolamine, triisopropanolamine, 2,2′-iminodiethanol, 2-aminoethanol, 3-amino-1-propanol, 4-amino-1-butanol, 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)morpholine, 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)pyridine, 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine, 1-[2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethyl]piperazine, piperidine ethanol, 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)pyrrolidine, 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-pyrrolidinone, 3-piperidino-1,2-propanediol, 3-pyrrolidino-1,2-propanediol, 8-hydroxyjulolidine, 3-quinuclidinol, 3-tropanol, 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidine ethanol, 1-aziridine ethanol, N-(2-hydroxyethyl)phthalimide, and N-(2-hydroxyethyl)isonicotinamide. Examples of suitable amide derivatives include formamide, N-methylformamide, N,N-dimethylformamide, acetamide, N-methylacetamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, propionamide, and benzamide. Suitable imide derivatives include phthalimide, succinimide, and maleimide.

One or more basic compounds of the following general formula (B)-1 may also be added. N(X)_(n)(Y)_(3-n)  (B)-1

In the formula, n is equal to 1, 2 or 3; side chain Y is independently hydrogen or a straight, branched or cyclic alkyl group of 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain an ether or hydroxyl group; and side chain X is independently selected from groups of the following general formulas (X)-1 to (X)-3, and two or three X's may bond together to form a ring.

In the formulas, R³⁰⁰, R³⁰² and R³⁰⁵ are independently straight or branched alkylene groups of 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R³⁰¹ and R³⁰⁴ are independently hydrogen, straight, branched or cyclic alkyl groups of 1 to 20 carbon atoms, which may contain at least one hydroxyl, ether, ester group or lactone ring; R³⁰³ is a single bond or a straight or branched alkylene group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and R³⁰⁶ is a straight, branched or cyclic alkyl group of 1 to 20 carbon atoms, which may contain at least one hydroxyl, ether, ester group or lactone ring.

Illustrative examples of the compounds of formula (B)-1 include tris(2-methoxymethoxyethyl)amine,

-   tris{2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl}amine, -   tris{2-(2-methoxyethoxymethoxy)ethyl}amine, -   tris{2-(1-methoxyethoxy)ethyl}amine, -   tris{2-(1-ethoxyethoxy)ethyl}amine, -   tris{2-(1-ethoxypropoxy)ethyl}amine, -   tris[2-{2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethoxy}ethyl]amine, -   4,7,13,16,21,24-hexaoxa-1,10-diazabicyclo[8.8.8]hexacosane, -   4,7,13,18-tetraoxa-1,10-diazabicyclo[8.5.5]eicosane, -   1,4,10,13-tetraoxa-7,16-diazabicyclooctadecane, -   1-aza-12-crown-4,1-aza-15-crown-5,1-aza-18-crown-6, -   tris(2-formyloxyethyl)amine, tris(2-acetoxyethyl)amine, -   tris(2-propionyloxyethyl)amine, tris(2-butyryloxyethyl)amine, -   tris(2-isobutyryloxyethyl)amine, tris(2-valeryloxyethyl)amine, -   tris(2-pivaloyloxyethyl)amine, -   N,N-bis(2-acetoxyethyl)-2-(acetoxyacetoxy)ethylamine, -   tris(2-methoxycarbonyloxyethyl)amine, -   tris(2-tert-butoxycarbonyloxyethyl)amine, -   tris[2-(2-oxopropoxy)ethyl]amine, -   tris[2-(methoxycarbonylmethyl)oxyethyl]amine, -   tris[2-(tert-butoxycarbonylmethyloxy)ethyl]amine, -   tris[2-(cyclohexyloxycarbonylmethyloxy)ethyl]amine, -   tris(2-methoxycarbonylethyl)amine, -   tris(2-ethoxycarbonylethyl)amine, -   N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-(methoxycarbonyl)ethylamine, -   N,N-bis(2-acetoxyethyl)-2-(methoxycarbonyl)ethylamine, -   N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-(ethoxycarbonyl)ethylamine, -   N,N-bis(2-acetoxyethyl)-2-(ethoxycarbonyl)ethylamine, -   N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-(2-methoxyethoxycarbonyl)ethylamine, -   N,N-bis(2-acetoxyethyl)-2-(2-methoxyethoxycarbonyl)ethylamine, -   N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-(2-hydroxyethoxycarbonyl)ethylamine, -   N,N-bis(2-acetoxyethyl)-2-(2-acetoxyethoxycarbonyl)ethylamine, -   N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-[(methoxycarbonyl)methoxycarbonyl]-ethylamine, -   N,N-bis(2-acetoxyethyl)-2-[(methoxycarbonyl)methoxycarbonyl]-ethylamine, -   N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-(2-oxopropoxycarbonyl)ethylamine, -   N,N-bis(2-acetoxyethyl)-2-(2-oxopropoxycarbonyl)ethylamine, -   N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-(tetrahydrofurfuryloxycarbonyl)-ethylamine, -   N,N-bis(2-acetoxyethyl)-2-(tetrahydrofurfuryloxycarbonyl)-ethylamine, -   N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-[(2-oxotetrahydrofuran-3-yl)oxy-carbonyl]ethylamine, -   N,N-bis(2-acetoxyethyl)-2-[(2-oxotetrahydrofuran-3-yl)oxy-carbonyl]ethylamine, -   N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-(4-hydroxybutoxycarbonyl)ethylamine, -   N,N-bis(2-formyloxyethyl)-2-(4-formyloxybutoxycarbonyl)-ethylamine, -   N,N-bis(2-formyloxyethyl)-2-(2-formyloxyethoxycarbonyl)-ethylamine, -   N,N-bis(2-methoxyethyl)-2-(methoxycarbonyl)ethylamine, -   N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-bis[2-(methoxycarbonyl)ethyl]amine, -   N-(2-acetoxyethyl)-bis[2-(methoxycarbonyl)ethyl]amine, -   N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-bis[2-(ethoxycarbonyl)ethyl]amine, -   N-(2-acetoxyethyl)-bis[2-(ethoxycarbonyl)ethyl]amine, -   N-(3-hydroxy-1-propyl)-bis[2-(methoxycarbonyl)ethyl]amine, -   N-(3-acetoxy-1-propyl)-bis[2-(methoxycarbonyl)ethyl]amine, -   N-(2-methoxyethyl)-bis[2-(methoxycarbonyl)ethyl]amine, -   N-butyl-bis[2-(methoxycarbonyl)ethyl]amine, -   N-butyl-bis[2-(2-methoxyethoxycarbonyl)ethyl]amine, -   N-methyl-bis(2-acetoxyethyl)amine, -   N-ethyl-bis(2-acetoxyethyl)amine, -   N-methyl-bis(2-pivaloyloxyethyl)amine, -   N-ethyl-bis[2-(methoxycarbonyloxy)ethyl]amine, -   N-ethyl-bis[2-(tert-butoxycarbonyloxy)ethyl]amine, -   tris(methoxycarbonylmethyl)amine, -   tris(ethoxycarbonylmethyl)amine, -   N-butyl-bis(methoxycarbonylmethyl)amine, -   N-hexyl-bis(methoxycarbonylmethyl)amine, and -   β-(diethylamino)-δ-valerolactone.

Also useful are basic compounds having cyclic structure, represented by the following general formula (B)-2.

Herein X is as defined above, and R³⁰⁷ is a straight or branched alkylene group of 2 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain one or more carbonyl, ether, ester or sulfide groups.

Illustrative examples of the compounds having formula (B)-2 include 1-[2-(methoxymethoxy)ethyl]pyrrolidine,

-   1-[2-(methoxymethoxy)ethyl]piperidine, -   4-[2-(methoxymethoxy)ethyl]morpholine, -   1-[2-[(2-methoxyethoxy)methoxy]ethyl]pyrrolidine, -   1-[2-[(2-methoxyethoxy)methoxy]ethyl]piperidine, -   4-[2-[(2-methoxyethoxy)methoxy]ethyl]morpholine, -   2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)ethyl acetate, 2-piperidinoethyl acetate, -   2-morpholinoethyl acetate, 2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)ethyl formate, -   2-piperidinoethyl propionate, 2-morpholinoethyl acetoxyacetate, -   2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)ethyl methoxyacetate, -   4-[2-(methoxycarbonyloxy)ethyl]morpholine, -   1-[2-(t-butoxycarbonyloxy)ethyl]piperidine, -   4-[2-(2-methoxyethoxycarbonyloxy)ethyl]morpholine, -   methyl 3-(1-pyrrolidinyl)propionate, -   methyl 3-piperidinopropionate, methyl 3-morpholinopropionate, -   methyl 3-(thiomorpholino)propionate, -   methyl 2-methyl-3-(1-pyrrolidinyl)propionate, -   ethyl 3-morpholinopropionate, -   methoxycarbonylmethyl 3-piperidinopropionate, -   2-hydroxyethyl 3-(1-pyrrolidinyl)propionate, -   2-acetoxyethyl 3-morpholinopropionate, -   2-oxotetrahydrofuran-3-yl 3-(1-pyrrolidinyl)propionate, -   tetrahydrofurfuryl 3-morpholinopropionate, -   glycidyl 3-piperidinopropionate, -   2-methoxyethyl 3-morpholinopropionate, -   2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl 3-(1-pyrrolidinyl)propionate, -   butyl 3-morpholinopropionate, -   cyclohexyl 3-piperidinopropionate, -   α-(1-pyrrolidinyl)methyl-γ-butyrolactone, -   β-piperidino-γ-butyrolactone, β-morpholino-δ-valerolactone, -   methyl 1-pyrrolidinylacetate, methyl piperidinoacetate, -   methyl morpholinoacetate, methyl thiomorpholinoacetate, -   ethyl 1-pyrrolidinylacetate, and -   2-methoxyethyl morpholinoacetate.

Also, basic compounds having cyano group, represented by the following general formulae (B)-3 to (B)-6 are useful.

Herein, X, R³⁰⁷ and n are as defined above, and R³⁰⁸ and R³⁰⁹ are each independently a straight or branched alkylene group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

Illustrative examples of the basic compounds having cyano group, represented by formulae (B)-3 to (B)-6, include

-   3-(diethylamino)propiononitrile, -   N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-aminopropiononitrile, -   N,N-bis(2-acetoxyethyl)-3-aminopropiononitrile, -   N,N-bis(2-formyloxyethyl)-3-aminopropiononitrile, -   N,N-bis(2-methoxyethyl)-3-aminopropiononitrile, -   N,N-bis[2-(methoxymethoxy)ethyl]-3-aminopropiononitrile, -   methyl N-(2-cyanoethyl)-N-(2-methoxyethyl)-3-aminopropionate, -   methyl N-(2-cyanoethyl)-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-aminopropionate, -   methyl N-(2-acetoxyethyl)-N-(2-cyanoethyl)-3-aminopropionate, -   N-(2-cyanoethyl)-N-ethyl-3-aminopropiononitrile, -   N-(2-cyanoethyl)-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-aminopropiononitrile, -   N-(2-acetoxyethyl)-N-(2-cyanoethyl)-3-aminopropiononitrile, -   N-(2-cyanoethyl)-N-(2-formyloxyethyl)-3-aminopropiononitrile, -   N-(2-cyanoethyl)-N-(2-methoxyethyl)-3-aminopropiononitrile, -   N-(2-cyanoethyl)-N-[2-(methoxymethoxy)ethyl]-3-aminopropiono-nitrile, -   N-(2-cyanoethyl)-N-(3-hydroxy-1-propyl)-3-aminopropiononitrile, -   N-(3-acetoxy-1-propyl)-N-(2-cyanoethyl)-3-aminopropiononitrile, -   N-(2-cyanoethyl)-N-(3-formyloxy-1-propyl)-3-aminopropiono-nitrile, -   N-(2-cyanoethyl)-N-tetrahydrofurfuryl-3-aminopropiononitrile, -   N,N-bis(2-cyanoethyl)-3-aminopropiononitrile,     diethylaminoacetonitrile, -   N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)aminoacetonitrile, -   N,N-bis(2-acetoxyethyl)aminoacetonitrile, -   N,N-bis(2-formyloxyethyl)aminoacetonitrile, -   N,N-bis(2-methoxyethyl)aminoacetonitrile, -   N,N-bis[2-(methoxymethoxy)ethyl]aminoacetonitrile, -   methyl N-cyanomethyl-N-(2-methoxyethyl)-3-aminopropionate, -   methyl N-cyanomethyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-aminopropionate, -   methyl N-(2-acetoxyethyl)-N-cyanomethyl-3-aminopropionate, -   N-cyanomethyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)aminoacetonitrile, -   N-(2-acetoxyethyl)-N-(cyanomethyl)aminoacetonitrile, -   N-cyanomethyl-N-(2-formyloxyethyl)aminoacetonitrile, -   N-cyanomethyl-N-(2-methoxyethyl)aminoacetonitrile, -   N-cyanomethyl-N-[2-(methoxymethoxy)ethyl)aminoacetonitrile, -   N-cyanomethyl-N-(3-hydroxy-1-propyl)aminoacetonitrile, -   N-(3-acetoxy-1-propyl)-N-(cyanomethyl)aminoacetonitrile, -   N-cyanomethyl-N-(3-formyloxy-1-propyl)aminoacetonitrile, -   N,N-bis(cyanomethyl)aminoacetonitrile, -   1-pyrrolidinepropiononitrile, 1-piperidinepropiononitrile, -   4-morpholinepropiononitrile, 1-pyrrolidineacetonitrile, -   1-piperidineacetonitrile, 4-morpholineacetonitrile, -   cyanomethyl 3-diethylaminopropionate, -   cyanomethyl N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-aminopropionate, -   cyanomethyl N,N-bis(2-acetoxyethyl)-3-aminopropionate, -   cyanomethyl N,N-bis(2-formyloxyethyl)-3-aminopropionate, -   cyanomethyl N,N-bis(2-methoxyethyl)-3-aminopropionate, -   cyanomethyl N,N-bis[2-(methoxymethoxy)ethyl]-3-aminopropionate, -   2-cyanoethyl 3-diethylaminopropionate, -   2-cyanoethyl N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-aminopropionate, -   2-cyanoethyl N,N-bis(2-acetoxyethyl)-3-aminopropionate, -   2-cyanoethyl N,N-bis(2-formyloxyethyl)-3-aminopropionate, -   2-cyanoethyl N,N-bis(2-methoxyethyl)-3-aminopropionate, -   2-cyanoethyl N,N-bis[2-(methoxymethoxy)ethyl]-3-aminopropionate, -   cyanomethyl 1-pyrrolidinepropionate, -   cyanomethyl 1-piperidinepropionate, -   cyanomethyl 4-morpholinepropionate, -   2-cyanoethyl 1-pyrrolidinepropionate, -   2-cyanoethyl 1-piperidinepropionate, and -   2-cyanoethyl 4-morpholinepropionate.

The basic compound is preferably formulated in an amount of 0.001 to 2 parts, and especially 0.01 to 1 part by weight, per 100 parts by weight of the entire base resin. Less than 0.001 part of the basic compound achieves no or little addition effect whereas more than 2 parts would result in too low a sensitivity.

Other Components

In the positive resist composition, a compound having a group ≡C—COOH may be blended. Exemplary, non-limiting compounds having a carboxyl group include one or more compounds selected from Groups I and II below. Including this compound improves the PED stability of the resist and ameliorates edge roughness on nitride film substrates.

Group I:

Compounds in which some or all of the hydrogen atoms on the phenolic hydroxyl groups of the compounds of general formulas (A1) to (A10) below have been replaced with —R⁴⁰¹—COOH (wherein R⁴⁰¹ is a straight or branched alkylene of 1 to 10 carbon atoms), and in which the molar ratio C/(C+D) of phenolic hydroxyl groups (C) to ≡C—COOH groups (D) in the molecule is from 0.1 to 1.0.

In these formulas, R⁴⁰⁸ is hydrogen or methyl; R⁴⁰² and R⁴⁰³ are each hydrogen or a straight or branched C₁-C₈ alkyl or alkenyl; R⁴⁰⁴ is hydrogen, a straight or branched C₁-C₈ alkyl or alkenyl, or a —(R⁴⁰⁹)_(h)—COOR′ group (R′ being hydrogen or —R⁴⁰⁹—COOH); R⁴⁰⁵ is —(CH₂)— (wherein i is 2 to 10), a C₆-C₁₀ arylene, carbonyl, sulfonyl, an oxygen atom, or a sulfur atom; R⁴⁰⁶ is a C₁-C₁₀ alkylene, a C₆-C₁₀ arylene, carbonyl, sulfonyl, an oxygen atom, or a sulfur atom; R⁴⁰⁷ is hydrogen, a straight or branched C₁-C₈ alkyl or alkenyl, or a hydroxyl-substituted phenyl or naphthyl; R⁴⁰⁹ is a straight or branched C₁-C₁₀ alkylene; R⁴¹⁰ is hydrogen, a straight or branched C₁-C₈ alkyl or alkenyl, or a —R⁴¹¹—COOH group; R⁴¹¹ is a straight or branched C₁-C₁₀ alkylene; h is an integer of 1 to 4, j is an integer from 0 to 3; s1, t1, s2, t2, s3, t3, s4, and t4 are each numbers which satisfy s1+t1=8, s2+t2=5, s3+t3=4, and s4+t4=6, and are such that each phenyl structure has at least one hydroxyl group; u is an integer of 1 to 4; κ is a number such that the compound of formula (A6) may have a weight average molecular weight of 1,000 to 5,000; and λ is a number such that the compound of formula (A7) may have a weight average molecular weight of 1,000 to 10,000.

Group II:

Compounds of general formulas (A11) to (A15) below.

In these formulas, R⁴⁰², R⁴⁰³, and R⁴¹¹ are as defined above; R⁴¹² is hydrogen or hydroxyl; s5 and t5 are numbers which satisfy s5≧0, t5≧0, and s5+t5=5; and h′ is 0 or 1.

Illustrative, non-limiting examples of the compound having a carboxyl group include compounds of the general formulas AI-1 to AI-14 and AII-1 to AII-10 below.

In the above formulas, R″ is hydrogen or a —CH₂COOH group such that the —CH₂COOH group accounts for 10 to 100 mol % of R″ in each compound, K and X are as defined above.

The compound having a group ≡C—COOH may be used singly or as combinations of two or more thereof. The compound is added in an amount ranging from 0 to 5 parts, preferably 0.1 to 5 parts, more preferably 0.1 to 3 parts, further preferably 0.1 to 2 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of the base resin. More than 5 parts of the compound can reduce the resolution of the resist composition.

The positive resist composition of the invention may further include a surfactant which is commonly used for improving the coating characteristics.

Illustrative, non-limiting, examples of the surfactant include nonionic surfactants, for example, polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers such as polyoxyethylene lauryl ether, polyoxyethylene stearyl ether, polyoxyethylene cetyl ether, and polyoxyethylene oleyl ether, polyoxyethylene alkylaryl ethers such as polyoxyethylene octylphenol ether and polyoxyethylene nonylphenol ether, polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene block copolymers, sorbitan fatty acid esters such as sorbitan monolaurate, sorbitan monopalmitate, and sorbitan monostearate, and polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters such as polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monopalmitate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan trioleate, and polyoxyethylene sorbitan tristearate; fluorochemical surfactants such as EFTOP EF301, EF303 and EF352 (Tohkem Products Co., Ltd.), Megaface F171, F172 and F173 (Dai-Nippon Ink & Chemicals, Inc.), Fluorad FC430 and FC431 (Sumitomo 3M Co., Ltd.), Asahiguard AG710, Surflon S-381, S-382, SC101, SC102, SC103, SC104, SC105, SC106, Surfynol E1004, KH-10, KH-20, KH-30 and KH-40 (Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.); organosiloxane polymers KP341, X-70-092 and X-70-093 (Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.), acrylic acid or methacrylic acid Polyflow No. 75 and No. 95 (Kyoeisha Ushi Kagaku Kogyo Co., Ltd.). Inter alia, FC430, Surflon S-381, Surfynol E1004, KH-20 and KH-30 are preferred. These surfactants may be used alone or in admixture.

To the positive resist composition, the surfactant is added in an amount of up to 2 parts, preferably up to 1 part by weight, per 100 parts by weight of the base resin.

For the microfabrication of integrated circuits, any well-known lithography may be used to form a resist pattern from the positive resist composition of the invention although the technology is not limited thereto.

The composition is applied onto a substrate (on which an integrated circuit is to be formed, e.g., Si, SiO₂, SiN, SiON, TiN, WSi, BPSG, SOG, organic antireflective film, Cr, CrO, CrON, MoSi, etc.) by a suitable coating technique such as spin coating, roll coating, flow coating, dip coating, spray coating or doctor coating. The coating is prebaked on a hot plate at a temperature of 60 to 150° C. for about 1 to 10 minutes, preferably 80 to 120° C. for 1 to 5 minutes. The resulting resist film is generally 0.1 to 2.0 μm thick. With a mask having a desired pattern placed above the resist film, the resist film is then exposed to actinic radiation such as UV, deep-UV, electron beams, x-rays, excimer laser light, γ-rays and synchrotron radiation, preferably having an exposure wavelength of up to 300 nm, more preferably 180 to 200 nm. The exposure dose is preferably about 1 to 200 mJ/cm², more preferably about 10 to 100 mJ/cm². The film is further baked on a hot plate at 60 to 150° C. for 1 to 5 minutes, preferably 80 to 120° C. for 1 to 3 minutes (post-exposure baking=PEB).

Thereafter the resist film is developed with a developer in the form of an aqueous base solution, for example, 0.1 to 5 wt %, preferably 2 to 3 wt % aqueous solution of tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) for 0.1 to 3 minutes, preferably 0.5 to 2 minutes by conventional techniques such as dip, puddle or spray techniques. In this way, a desired resist pattern is formed on the substrate. It is appreciated that the resist composition of the invention is suited for micro-patterning using such high-energy radiation as deep UV with a wavelength of 254 to 193 nm, vacuum UV with a wavelength of 157 nm, electron beams, soft x-rays, x-rays, excimer laser light, γ-rays and synchrotron radiation, and best suitable for micro-patterning using high-energy radiation in the wavelength range of 180 to 200 nm.

Immersion lithography can be applied to the resist composition of the invention. The ArF immersion lithography uses deionized water as the immersion solvent. The immersion lithography involves prebaking a resist film and exposing the resist film to light through a projection lens, with water interposed between the resist film and the projection lens. Since water has a refractive index of 1.43 at the wavelength 193 nm, the exposure wavelength is 135 nm=193/1.43, indicating that the exposure wavelength can be shortened. Therefor, this technology is important for the ArF lithography to survive to the 65 nm node, with a further development thereof being accelerated. The lactone ring, which is used as a hydrophilic group in the prior art ArF resists, has solubility in both alkaline aqueous solution and water. When lactones and acid anhydrides (e.g., maleic anhydride and itaconic anhydride) having high solubility in water are used as the hydrophilic group, a problem arises during immersion in water that more water penetrates into the resist from its surface, whereby the resist surface is swollen. By contrast, hexafluoroalcohol is dissolvable in alkaline aqueous solution, but not at all in water, and it is thus believed that the influence of dissolution and swelling during liquid immersion is minimized.

EXAMPLE

Examples of the invention are given below by way of illustration and not by way of limitation. The abbreviations used herein are AIBN for 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile, GPC for gel permeation chromatography, NMR for nuclear magnetic resonance, Mw for weight average molecular weight, Mn for number average molecular weight, Mw/Mn for molecular weight distribution or dispersity, and PGMEA for propylene glycol monomethylether acetate. For all polymers, Mw and Mn are determined by GPC versus polystyrene standards.

Synthesis Example 1

A 100-mL flask was charged with 8.2 g of 3-ethyl-3-exo-tetracyclo[4.4.0.1^(2,5).1^(7,10)]dodecanyl methacrylate, 9.2 g of 3-oxo-2,7-dioxatricyclo[4.2.1.0^(4,8)]nonan-9-yl methacrylate, 14.8 g of 2-(2-hydroxy-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propyl)-cyclohexyl methacrylate, and 20 g of tetrahydrofuran as a solvent. The reactor was subjected to cooling to −70° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere, evacuation to vacuum, and nitrogen flow, which procedure was repeated three times. The reactor was warmed up to room temperature, charged with 0.2 g of AIBN as a polymerization initiator, heated at 60° C., and held for 15 hours for reaction. The reaction solution was poured into 500 mL of isopropyl alcohol for precipitation. The white solids were collected by filtration and dried at 60° C. under reduced pressure, yielding 25.8 g of a white polymer.

The polymer was analyzed by ¹³C-NMR, ¹H-NMR, and GPC, with the results shown below.

Copolymer Composition Ratio (Molar Ratio)

-   3-ethyl-3-exo-tetracyclo[4.4.0.1^(2,5).1^(7,10)]dodecanyl     methacrylate:3-oxo-2,7-dioxatricyclo[4.2.1.0^(4,8)]nonan-9-yl     methacrylate:2-(2-hydroxy-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propyl)cyclohexyl     methacrylate=0.30:0.40:0.30     -   Mw=8,200     -   Mw/Mn=1.78

This polymer is designated Inventive Polymer 1.

Synthesis Example 2

A 100-mL flask was charged with 9.8 g of 2-ethyl-2-adamantane methacrylate, 8.2 g of 3-hydroxy-1-adamantyl methacrylate, 5.3 g of 3-oxo-2,7-dioxatricyclo[4.2.1.0^(4,8)]-nonan-9-yl methacrylate, 5.0 g of 3,5-di(2-hydroxy-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propyl)cyclohexyl methacrylate, and 20 g of tetrahydrofuran as a solvent. The reactor was subjected to cooling to −70° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere, evacuation to vacuum, and nitrogen flow, which procedure was repeated three times. The reactor was warmed up to room temperature, charged with 0.2 g of AIBN as a polymerization initiator, heated at 60° C., and held for 15 hours for reaction. The reaction solution was poured into 500 mL of isopropyl alcohol for precipitation. The white solids were collected by filtration and dried at 60° C. under reduced pressure, yielding 23.3 g of a white polymer.

The polymer was analyzed by ¹³C-NMR, ¹H-NMR, and GPC, with the results shown below.

Copolymer Composition Ratio (Molar Ratio)

-   2-ethyl-2-adamantane methacrylate:3-hydroxy-1-adamantyl     methacrylate:3-oxo-2,7-dioxatricyclo-[4.2.1.0^(4,8)]nonan-9-yl     methacrylate:3,5-di(2-hydroxy-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propyl)cyclohexyl     methacrylate=0.35:0.30:0.25:0.10     -   Mw=8,600     -   Mw/Mn=1.88

This polymer is designated Inventive Polymer 2.

Synthesis Example 3

A 100-mL flask was charged with 9.8 g of 2-ethyl-2-adamantane methacrylate, 8.8 g of 3-hydroxy-1-adamantyl methacrylate, 10.2 g of 3-oxo-5-methoxycarbonyl-2-oxatricyclo[4.2.1.0^(4,8)]-9-nonyl methacrylate, 5.0 g of 3,5-di(2-hydroxy-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propyl)cyclohexyl methacrylate, and 20 g of tetrahydrofuran as a solvent. The reactor was subjected to cooling to −70° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere, evacuation to vacuum, and nitrogen flow, which procedure was repeated three times. The reactor was warmed up to room temperature, charged with 0.2 g of AIBN as a polymerization initiator, heated at 60° C., and held for 15 hours for reaction. The reaction solution was poured into 500 mL of isopropyl alcohol for precipitation. The white solids were collected by filtration and dried at 60° C. under reduced pressure, yielding 23.3 g of a white polymer.

The polymer was analyzed by ¹³C-NMR, ¹H-NMR, and GPC, with the results shown below.

Copolymer Composition Ratio (Molar Ratio)

-   2-ethyl-2-adamantane methacrylate:3-hydroxy-1-adamantyl     methacrylate:3-oxo-5-methoxycarbonyl-2-oxatricyclo[4.2.1.0^(4,8)]-9-nonyl     methacrylate:3,5-di(2-hydroxy-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propyl)cyclohexyl     methacrylate=0.35:0.30:0.25:0.10     -   Mw=8,900     -   Mw/Mn=1.83

This polymer is designated Inventive Polymer 3.

Synthesis Example 4

A 100-mL flask was charged with 9.8 g of 2-ethyl-2-adamantane methacrylate, 8.2 g of 3-hydroxy-1-adamantyl methacrylate, 5.3 g of 3-oxo-2,7-dioxatricyclo[4.2.1.0^(4,8)]-nonan-9-yl methacrylate, 8.0 g of 2-(2-hydroxy-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propyl)cyclohexyl methacrylate, and 20 g of tetrahydrofuran as a solvent. The reactor was subjected to cooling to −70° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere, evacuation to vacuum, and nitrogen flow, which procedure was repeated three times. The reactor was warmed up to room temperature, charged with 0.2 g of AIBN as a polymerization initiator, heated at 60° C., and held for 15 hours for reaction. The reaction solution was poured into 500 mL of isopropyl alcohol for precipitation. The white solids were collected by filtration and dried at 60° C. under reduced pressure, yielding 23.3 g of a white polymer.

The polymer was analyzed by ¹³C-NMR, ¹H-NMR, and GPC, with the results shown below.

Copolymer Composition Ratio (Molar Ratio)

-   2-ethyl-2-adamantane methacrylate:3-hydroxy-1-adamantyl     methacrylate:3-oxo-2,7-dioxatricyclo-[4.2.1.0^(4,8)]nonan-9-yl     methacrylate:2-(2-hydroxy-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propyl)cyclohexyl     methacrylate=0.35:0.20:0.20:0.25     -   Mw=9,200     -   Mw/Mn=1.81

This polymer is designated Inventive Polymer 4.

Synthesis Example 5

A 100-mL flask was charged with 11.8 g of 1-cyclopentylcyclohexyl methacrylate, 8.2 g of 3-hydroxy-1-adamantyl methacrylate, 5.3 g of 3-oxo-2,7-dioxatricyclo[4.2.1.0^(4,8)]nonan-9-yl methacrylate, 5.0 g of 3,5-di(2-hydroxy-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propyl)cyclohexyl methacrylate, and 20 g of tetrahydrofuran as a solvent. The reactor was subjected to cooling to −70° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere, evacuation to vacuum, and nitrogen flow, which procedure was repeated three times. The reactor was warmed up to room temperature, charged with 0.2 g of AIBN as a polymerization initiator, heated at 60° C., and held for 15 hours for reaction. The reaction solution was poured into 500 mL of isopropyl alcohol for precipitation. The white solids were collected by filtration and dried at 60° C. under reduced pressure, yielding 23.3 g of a white polymer.

The polymer was analyzed by ¹³C-NMR, ¹H-NMR, and GPC, with the results shown below.

Copolymer Composition Ratio (Molar Ratio)

-   1-cyclopentylcyclohexyl methacrylate:3-hydroxy-1-adamantyl     methacrylate:3-oxo-2,7-dioxatricyclo-[4.2.1.0^(4,8)]nonan-9-yl     methacrylate:3,5-di(2-hydroxy-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propyl)cyclohexyl     methacrylate=0.22:0.30:0.38:0.10     -   Mw=7,800     -   Mw/Mn=1.73

This polymer is designated Inventive Polymer 5.

Synthesis Example 6

A 100-mL flask was charged with 8.6 g of 1-ethylcyclopentyl methacrylate, 8.2 g of 3-hydroxy-1-adamantyl methacrylate, 5.3 g of 3-oxo-2,7-dioxatricyclo-[4.2.1.0^(4,8)]nonan-9-yl methacrylate, 5.0 g of 3,5-di(2-hydroxy-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propyl)cyclohexyl methacrylate, and 20 g of tetrahydrofuran as a solvent. The reactor was subjected to cooling to −70° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere, evacuation to vacuum, and nitrogen flow, which procedure was repeated three times. The reactor was warmed up to room temperature, charged with 0.2 g of AIBN as a polymerization initiator, heated at 60° C., and held for 15 hours for reaction. The reaction solution was poured into 500 mL of isopropyl alcohol for precipitation. The white solids were collected by filtration and dried at 60° C. under reduced pressure, yielding 23.3 g of a white polymer.

The polymer was analyzed by ¹³C-NMR, ¹H-NMR, and GPC, with the results shown below.

Copolymer Composition Ratio (Molar Ratio)

-   1-ethylcyclopentyl methacrylate:3-hydroxy-1-adamantyl     methacrylate:3-oxo-2,7-dioxatricyclo[4.2.1.0^(4,8)]nonan-9-yl     methacrylate:3,5-di(2-hydroxy-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propyl)cyclohexyl     methacrylate=0.33:0.30:0.27:0.10     -   Mw=7,200     -   Mw/Mn=1.76

This polymer is designated Inventive Polymer 6.

Synthesis Example 7

A 100-mL flask was charged with 10.5 g of 1-(7-oxanorbornan-2-yl)cyclopentyl methacrylate, 8.2 g of 3-hydroxy-1-adamantyl methacrylate, 5.3 g of 3-oxo-2,7-dioxatricyclo[4.2.1.0^(4,8)]nonan-9-yl methacrylate, 5.0 g of 3,5-di(2-hydroxy-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propyl)cyclohexyl methacrylate, and 20 g of tetrahydrofuran as a solvent. The reactor was subjected to cooling to −70° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere, evacuation to vacuum, and nitrogen flow, which procedure was repeated three times. The reactor was warmed up to room temperature, charged with 0.2 g of AIBN as a polymerization initiator, heated at 60° C., and held for 15 hours for reaction. The reaction solution was poured into 500 mL of isopropyl alcohol for precipitation. The white solids were collected by filtration and dried at 60° C. under reduced pressure, yielding 23.3 g of a white polymer.

The polymer was analyzed by ¹³C-NMR, ¹H-NMR, and GPC, with the results shown below.

Copolymer Composition Ratio (Molar Ratio)

-   1-(7-oxanorbornan-2-yl)cyclopentyl methacrylate     3-hydroxy-1-adamantyl     methacrylate:3-oxo-2,7-dioxatricyclo[4.2.1.0^(4,8)]nonan-9-yl     methacrylate:3,5-di(2-hydroxy-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propyl)-cyclohexyl     methacrylate=0.25:0.30:0.35:0.10     -   Mw=7,800     -   Mw/Mn=1.88

This polymer is designated Inventive Polymer 7.

Synthesis Example 8

A 100-mL flask was charged with 7.9 g of 2-adamantyloxymethyl methacrylate, 8.2 g of 3-hydroxy-1-adamantyl methacrylate, 5.3 g of 3-oxo-2,7-dioxa-tricyclo[4.2.1.0^(4,8)]nonan-9-yl methacrylate, 5.0 g of 3,5-di(2-hydroxy-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propyl)cyclohexyl methacrylate, and 20 g of tetrahydrofuran as a solvent. The reactor was subjected to cooling to −70° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere, evacuation to vacuum, and nitrogen flow, which procedure was repeated three times. The reactor was warmed up to room temperature, charged with 0.2 g of AIBN as a polymerization initiator, heated at 60° C., and held for 15 hours for reaction. The reaction solution was poured into 500 mL of isopropyl alcohol for precipitation. The white solids were collected by filtration and dried at 60° C. under reduced pressure, yielding 23.3 g of a white polymer.

The polymer was analyzed by ¹³C-NMR, ¹H-NMR, and GPC, with the results shown below.

Copolymer Composition Ratio (Molar Ratio)

-   2-adamantyloxymethyl methacrylate:3-hydroxy-1-adamantyl     methacrylate:3-oxo-2,7-dioxatricyclo-[4.2.1.0^(4,8)]nonan-9-yl     methacrylate:3,5-di(2-hydroxy-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propyl)cyclohexyl     methacrylate=0.21:0.30:0.41:0.08     -   Mw=9,100     -   Mw/Mn=1.83

This polymer is designated Inventive Polymer 8.

Comparative Synthesis Example 1

A 100-mL flask was charged with 24.4 g of 2-ethyl-2-adamantane methacrylate, 17.1 g of γ-butyrolactone methacrylate, and 40 g of tetrahydrofuran as a solvent. The reactor was subjected to cooling to −70° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere, evacuation to vacuum, and nitrogen flow, which procedure was repeated three times. The reactor was warmed up to room temperature, charged with 0.2 g of AIBN as a polymerization initiator, heated at 60° C., and held for 15 hours for reaction. The reaction solution was poured into 500 mL of isopropyl alcohol for precipitation. The white solids were collected by filtration and dried at 60° C. under reduced pressure, yielding 36.1 g of a white polymer.

The polymer was analyzed by ¹³C-NMR, ¹H-NMR, and GPC, with the results shown below.

Copolymer Composition Ratio (Molar Ratio)

-   2-ethyl-2-adamantane methacrylate:γ-butyrolactone     methacrylate=0.48:0.52     -   Mw=12,500     -   Mw/Mn=1.88

This polymer is designated Comparative Polymer 1.

Comparative Synthesis Example 2

A 100-mL flask was charged with 8.7 g of 2-(2-methoxymethoxy-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propyl)-cyclohexyl methacrylate, 25.7 g of 2-(2-hydroxy-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propyl)cyclohexyl methacrylate, and 20 g of tetrahydrofuran as a solvent. The reactor was subjected to cooling to −70° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere, evacuation to vacuum, and nitrogen flow, which procedure was repeated three times. The reactor was warmed up to room temperature, charged with 0.2 g of AIBN as a polymerization initiator, heated at 60° C., and held for 15 hours for reaction. The reaction solution was poured into 500 mL of isopropyl alcohol for precipitation. The white solids were collected by filtration and dried at 60° C. under reduced pressure, yielding 20.3 g of a white polymer.

The polymer was analyzed by ¹³C-NMR, ¹H-NMR, and GPC, with the results shown below.

Copolymer Composition Ratio (Molar Ratio)

-   2-(2-methoxymethoxy-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propyl)cyclohexyl     methacrylate:2-(2-hydroxy-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propyl)cyclohexyl     methacrylate=0.77:0.23     -   Mw=6,700     -   Mw/Mn=1.56

This polymer is designated Comparative Polymer 2.

Comparative Synthesis Example 3

A 100-mL flask was charged with 8.6 g of 2-ethyl-2-adamantane methacrylate, 30.3 g of 2-(2-hydroxy-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propyl)cyclohexyl methacrylate, and 20 g of tetrahydrofuran as a solvent. The reactor was subjected to cooling to −70° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere, evacuation to vacuum, and nitrogen flow, which procedure was repeated three times. The reactor was warmed up to room temperature, charged with 0.2 g of AIBN as a polymerization initiator, heated at 60° C., and held for 15 hours for reaction. The reaction solution was poured into 500 mL of isopropyl alcohol for precipitation. The white solids were collected by filtration and dried at 60° C. under reduced pressure, yielding 28.3 g of a white polymer.

The polymer was analyzed by ¹³C-NMR, ¹H-NMR, and GPC, with the results shown below.

Copolymer Composition Ratio (Molar Ratio)

-   2-ethyl-2-adamantane     methacrylate:2-(2-hydroxy-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propyl)cyclohexyl     methacrylate 0.35:0.65     -   Mw=7,800     -   Mw/Mn=1.66

This polymer is designated Comparative Polymer 3.

Comparative Synthesis Example 4

A 100-mL flask was charged with 11.8 g of 3,5-di(2-methoxymethoxy-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propyl)cyclohexyl methacrylate, 35.6 g of 2-(2-hydroxy-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propyl)cyclohexyl methacrylate, and 20 g of tetrahydrofuran as a solvent. The reactor was subjected to cooling to −70° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere, evacuation to vacuum, and nitrogen flow, which procedure was repeated three times. The reactor was warmed up to room temperature, charged with 0.2 g of AIBN as a polymerization initiator, heated at 60° C., and held for 15 hours for reaction. The reaction solution was poured into 500 mL of isopropyl alcohol for precipitation. The white solids were collected by filtration and dried at 60° C. under reduced pressure, yielding 32.3 g of a white polymer.

The polymer was analyzed by ¹³C-NMR, ¹H-NMR, and GPC, with the results shown below.

Copolymer Composition Ratio (Molar Ratio)

-   3,5-di(2-methoxymethoxy-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propyl)cyclohexyl     methacrylate:2-(2-hydroxy-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propyl)cyclohexyl     methacrylate=0.20:0.80     -   Mw=6,800     -   Mw/Mn=1.55

This polymer is designated Comparative Polymer 4.

Examples and Comparative Examples

Preparation of Positive Resist Compositions

Resist solutions were prepared by dissolving the polymer and other components in a solvent in accordance with the formulation shown in Table 1 and passing through a filter with a pore size of 0.2 Wm. The components in Table 1 are as follows.

-   Polymer:     -   Inventive Polymers 1 to 8 resulting from Synthesis Examples 1 to         8     -   Comparative Polymers 1 to 4 resulting from Comparative Synthesis         Examples 1 to 4 -   Photoacid generator:     -   PAG1 of the following structural formula -   Basic compound:     -   triethanolamine, TMMEA, AAA, and AACN of the following         structural formulae -   Dissolution inhibitor:     -   DRI1 of the following structural formula -   Organic solvent:     -   PGMEA         Exposure/Patterning

On silicon wafers having a film of AR-19 (Shipley) coated to a thickness of 82 nm, the resist solutions were spin coated, then baked on a hot plate at 120° C. for 60 seconds to give resist films having a thickness of 250 nm.

The resist films were exposed by means of an ArF excimer laser stepper model NSR-S305B (Nikon Corp., NA 0.68, a 0.85, ⅔ annular illumination). Immediately after exposure, the resist films were baked (PEB) at 110° C. for 60 seconds and then developed for 60 seconds with a 2.38% aqueous solution of tetramethylammonium hydroxide, obtaining positive patterns.

The resist patterns were evaluated. The exposure dose (mJ/cm²) which provided a 1:1 resolution to a 0.12-μm line-and-space pattern was the sensitivity. The minimum line width (nm) of a L/S pattern which was ascertained separate at this dose was the resolution of a test resist. Using a measuring SEM model S-9220 (Hitachi Ltd.), the 0.12-μm L/S pattern was measured for line edge roughness. A cross section of the resist was observed under a SEM model S4200 (Hitachi Ltd.). The results are also shown in Table 1. TABLE 1 Photoacid Basic Dissolution Line edge Polymer generator compound inhibitor Solvent Sensitivity Resolution Pattern roughness (pbw) (pbw) (pbw) (pbw) (pbw) (mJ/cm²) (μm) profile (3σ, nm) Example 1 Inventive PAG1 triethanolamine — PGMEA 32 0.11 rectangular 7.2 Polymer 1 (2.5) (0.25) (800) (100) Example 2 Inventive PAG1 triethanolamine — PGMEA 31 0.11 rectangular 6.1 Polymer 2 (2.5) (0.25) (800) (100) Example 3 Inventive PAG1 triethanolamine — PGMEA 35 0.10 rectangular 7.8 Polymer 3 (2.5) (0.25) (800) (100) Example 4 Inventive PAG1 triethanolamine — PGMEA 31 0.10 rectangular 7.6 Polymer 4 (2.5) (0.25) (800) (100) Example 5 Inventive PAG1 triethanolamine — PGMEA 22 0.11 rectangular 7.9 Polymer 5 (2.5) (0.25) (800) (100) Example 6 Inventive PAG1 triethanolamine — PGMEA 26 0.10 rectangular 7.2 Polymer 6 (2.5) (0.25) (800) (100) Example 7 Inventive PAG1 triethanolamine — PGMEA 28 0.10 rectangular 6.9 Polymer 7 (2.5) (0.25) (800) (100) Example 8 Inventive PAG1 triethanolamine — PGMEA 20 0.11 rectangular 6.8 Polymer 8 (2.5) (0.25) (800) (100) Example 9 Inventive PAG1 TMMEA — PGMEA 36 0.10 rectangular 6.5 Polymer 2 (2.5) (0.4) (800) (100) Example 10 Inventive PAG1 AAA — PGMEA 36 0.10 rectangular 6.8 Polymer 2 (2.5) (0.4) (800) (100) Example 11 Inventive PAG1 AACN — PGMEA 36 0.10 rectangular 6.8 Polymer 2 (2.5) (0.4) (800) (100) Example 12 Inventive PAG1 triethanolamine DRI1 PGMEA 28 0.11 rectangular 6.3 Polymer 2 (2.5) (0.25) (10) (800) (100) Comparative Comparative PAG1 triethanolamine — PGMEA 28 0.12 rectangular 10.5 Example 1 Polymer 1 (2.5) (0.25) (800) (100) Comparative Comparative PAG1 triethanolamine — PGMEA — not — — Example 2 Polymer 2 (2.2) (0.25) (800) resolved (100) Comparative Comparative PAG1 triethanolamine — PGMEA 18 0.12 tapered 12.8 Example 3 Polymer 3 (2.2) (0.25) (800) (100) Comparative Comparative PAG1 triethanolamine — PGMEA 15 0.12 triangular 11.5 Example 4 Polymer 4 (2.2) (0.25) (800) (100)

It is evident from Table 1 that the resist compositions of Examples 1 to 12, when processed through ArF exposure, demonstrate a high sensitivity, an excellent resolution, and minimized line edge roughness.

Dissolution Behavior of Resist in Developer as Analyzed by QCM

The above-prepared resist solution (Example 1 or Comparative Example 1) was passed through a filter having a pore size of 0.2 μm, spin coated on a quartz substrate with a size of 1 inch (˜25 mm) having a gold undercoat and a chromium electrode vapor deposited thereon, and baked on a hot plate at 130° C. for 60 seconds, forming a resist film of 250 nm thick.

The resist film was exposed by means of an ArF exposure system ArFES3000 (Litho Tech Japan Co., Ltd.) and baked (PEB) at 110° C. for 60 seconds. The substrate was set on a quartz oscillator microbalance instrument RDA-Qz3 for resist development analysis (Litho Tech Japan Co., Ltd.). Development in a 2.38% aqueous solution of tetramethylammonium hydroxide was carried out for 60 seconds, during which swell and dissolution were measured (oscillation mode AT cut). Exposure was made in a varying exposure dose, and QCM measurement performed on every dose.

The results from the resist compositions of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1 are plotted in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively. In the charts plotting resist film thickness versus developing time, an increase of film thickness with developing time indicates swell, and a decrease of film thickness with developing time indicates dissolution. It is seen that the resist composition of Example 1 is significantly reduced in swell during development as measured by the QCM technique.

Dry Etching Test

Each polymer, 2 g, was thoroughly dissolved in 10 g of PGMEA, and passed through a filter having a pore size of 0.2 μm, obtaining a polymer solution. The polymer solution was spin coated onto a silicon substrate and baked, forming a polymer film of 300 nm thick. Dry etching tests were carried out on the polymer films by etching them under two sets of conditions.

(1) CHF₃/CF₄ Gas Etching Test

Using a dry etching instrument TE-8500P (Tokyo Electron K.K.), the polymer film was etched with CHF₃/CF₄ gas under the following conditions. The difference in polymer film thickness before and after etching was determined. Chamber pressure 40.0 Pa RF power 1300 W Gap 9 mm CHF₃ gas flow rate 30 ml/min CF₄ gas flow rate 30 ml/min Ar gas flow rate 100 ml/min Time 60 sec (2) Cl₂/BCl₃ Gas Etching Test

Using a dry etching instrument L-507D-L (Nichiden Anerba K.K.), the polymer film was etched with Cl₂/BCl₃ gas under the following conditions. The difference in polymer film thickness before and after etching was determined. Chamber pressure 40.0 Pa RF power 300 W Gap 9 mm Cl₂ gas flow rate 30 ml/min BCl₃ gas flow rate 30 ml/min CHF₃ gas flow rate 100 ml/min O₂ gas flow rate 2 ml/min Time 60 sec

The results of the etching tests are shown in Table 2. TABLE 2 CHF₃/CF₄ gas etching Cl₂/BCl₃ gas etching Polymer rate (nm/sec) rate (nm/sec) Inventive Polymer 1 144 188 Inventive Polymer 2 138 186 Inventive Polymer 3 126 168 Inventive Polymer 4 122 163 Inventive Polymer 5 138 177 Inventive Polymer 6 150 203 Inventive Polymer 7 140 180 Inventive Polymer 8 144 220 Comparative Polymer 1 158 350 Comparative Polymer 2 225 338 Comparative Polymer 3 208 305 Comparative Polymer 4 285 408

As is evident from Tables 1 and 2, resist compositions using inventive polymers not only exhibit an excellent sensitivity and resolution, and minimized line edge roughness when processed by ArF lithography, but also have good dry etching resistance as demonstrated by a minimized difference in film thickness after etching.

Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-115088 is incorporated herein by reference.

Although some preferred embodiments have been described, many modifications and variations may be made thereto in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described without departing from the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A resist composition comprising a polymer comprising recurring units of the general formulae (1a), (2a), and (1b):

wherein R¹ is each independently hydrogen or methyl, R² is each independently hydrogen, an acyl group of 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or an acid labile group, R³ is hydrogen, methyl or —CO₂R⁸, R⁴ is hydrogen, methyl or —CH₂CO₂R⁸, R⁵ to R⁷ are each independently hydrogen, methyl or —CO₂R⁹, R⁸ is each independently hydrogen or a straight, branched or cyclic alkyl group of 1 to 15 carbon atoms, R⁹ is hydrogen or a straight, branched or cyclic alkyl group of 1 to 10 carbon atoms, X is —CH₂—, —O— or —S—, with the proviso that X is not —CH₂— when all R⁵ to R⁷ are hydrogen, a1, a2 and b1 are numbers satisfying 0≦a1/(a1+a2+b1)≦0.9, 0≦a2/(a1+a2+b1)≦0.9, 0<(a1+a2)/(a1+a2+b1)≦0.9, and 0<b1/(a1+a2+b1)≦0.8.
 2. A chemically amplified positive resist composition comprising (A) the polymer of claim 1 as a base resin, (B) an organic solvent, and (C) a photoacid generator.
 3. The resist composition of claim 2, further comprising a dissolution inhibitor.
 4. The resist composition of claim 2, further comprising a basic compound and/or a surfactant.
 5. A process for forming a pattern comprising the steps of applying the resist composition of claim 1 onto a substrate, heat treating, exposing to high-energy radiation, and developing with a developer.
 6. The pattern forming process of claim 5 wherein the high-energy radiation has a wavelength in the range of 180 to 200 nm. 